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The release of the Australian showjumping squads shows some "planning for the future" by the Australian selectors with some quality young horses listed as the FEI World Equestrian Games hopefuls for 2006 with this squad to be known as "Aiming for Aachen" squad.

With only a sole Individual spot available to Australia for Athens Olympic Games later this year it is wise to be planning for the future to ensure that the horses are up to the job for the World Equestrian Games and hopefully the jumping in Australia over the coming 18months will be geared towards this aim.

The Individual spot available to Australia was qualified by James Paterson-Robinson in July, 2003 and I for one would personally hope that James will be offered this spot as he was the one "good enough" to qualify for his country and it is great to see that Selectors have included James this year for the first time on the National Elite Squad for 2004.

The National Elite Squad stands as follows:

Robert Agnew and DP Envy (Victorian)
Tim Armitrano and Mr Innocent (Queensland)
Chris Chugg and Diamond B Ego (New South Wales)
Rory Hovell and Quelle Damme van de Heffinck (USA based)
Andrew Inglis and Mr Burns (New South Wales)
Thaisa Irwin and The Countryman (New South Wales)
James Peterson-Robinson and Madonna (Netherlands based)
Billy Raymont and Royal Selections (Queensland)
George Sanna and Boxster (New South Wales)

The "Aiming for Aachen" Squad stands as follows:

Paul Asthanasoff and Wirragulla Nicholas (New South Wales)
Jeff Bloomfield and Ideal de Valette (New South Wales)
Rod Brown and Don't Cry For Me (New South Wales)
Chris Chugg and Vivant (New South Wales)
Michelle Clarke and Belcam Gambler (South Australia)
Sue Coman and Above Shadows (New South Wales)
David Dobson and Noblewood Park Blatini(West Aus)
Melissa Froesch and Warlord II (Victoria)
Vince Grech and Dustin Bones (New South Wales)
Paula Hamood and NV Capone(South Australia)
Amanda Madigan and Havarti (Western Australia)
Adam Mellers and Kobble Creek Alamo (Queensland)
David Robertson and Sharp Seal (New South Wales)
Alison Rowlands and Country Fair (New South Wales)
Vicki Roycroft and Ricardo (New South Wales)
Vicki Roycroft and Copabella Visage (New South Wales)

Above: Andrew Inglis and Mr Burns, the horse saved from the dog food tin when he was found at the local knackers yard in NSW - he has certainly found a better life!

Mr Burns was on the 2003 National Devlopment Squad with Jamie Coman aboard but no doubt his appointment as National Coach will be leaving him little, if any time to compete and Andrew is certainly getting on well with this horse.

Left: Alison Rowlands and her lovely thoroughbred mare Country Fair make their first appearance on the Elite Squad. This mare has been consistently improving each time she has been moved up a level and has moved up from the 2003 Development Squad.

Below: Tim Armitrano and the little grey gelding Mr Innocent took second place honours in the Final World Cup League standings for Australia and are tipped to be off to Milan, Italy for Australia and they make their entry into the Elite Squad. This is their first appearance on National Squads.

Above left: Sue Coman and a horse which has been widely sprouted as one of the 'best in the
country', Above Shadows make their way onto the Aiming for Aachen Squad which certainly acknowledges that this is a rising star in the Australian scene and they retain their position from the 2003 National Development Squad list.

Right: Victorian rider, Melissa Froesch returns to the National Squads being on the Aiming for Aachen Squad with Warlord II which she bred herself proving again the quality of her breeding program.

This very talented 7 year old stallion has been impressing everyone since he made his first appearance as a four year old and he has continued to improve and gain scope every year since.

Warlord II (Daley K/Balmoral Boy breeding) is a horse which has impressed some of the best in the world and American Coach/Trainer/Rider George Morrison is quoted as saying at Equitana in Melbourne in November, 2003 that he would "come out of retirement" to ride this horse which is indeed a statement about the talent of this horse.
Left: Thaisa Irwin from New South Wales and The Countryman have been consistent placegetters throughout the season and now see themselves elevated from the 2003 National Development Squad to the National Elite Squad.
Below: Chris Chugg and the homebred gelding Diamond B Ego have been consistent at the top level for some years and retain their position on the Elite Squad which they have held for a few years now.

Chris Chugg and Diamond B Ego (right) were the winners of the Australian World Cup League this year but are opting to not compete in Milan, Italy in April this year.

Chuggie also lists on the Aiming for Aachen Squad with the stunning imported 7 year old stallion Vivant.

Left: Victorian Robbie Agnew and DPEnvy have made the move from the 2003 National Development Squad up to the 2004 National Elite Squad and this is also well deserved as this combination have been consistently improving throughout the past seasons and it is great to see them on the Elite list as reward for "work well done".

Right: George Sanna and Boxter are another combination who made the move from the 2003 Development Squad to the 2004 National Elite Squad.

Interesting to note some of the horses from the 2003 National Elite Squad who are not listed for 2004 even though they are still competing at top level. No doubt PR Cougar and Prof. Dr Brad Frankum have simply not had the time to compete due to his heavy workload and hence

coming off the lists this year. One would ask however why Anthony Thomas and Classic Style are off the list this year although perhaps last years trip to the World Cup Final took its toll on this horse.

Pat and Ian Mauser's Irish Sport Horse stallion, Clover Flush is another who is off the list completely and yet he is still competing at the top level in Australia and is apparently intending to make the trip to Ireland to compete at Dublin Horse Show's International ring in August this year so one would have to wonder why this horse has been left off the list.

No doubt the super grey gelding of Greg Smith's, Quickstitch is now perhaps showing a bit too much age to be considered for the Squads but it is a shame not to see a rider of this calibre on any of the National Squads. Quickstitch was listed for WEG 2002 in Spain but due to a health issue he was not seen jumping in the arena and the emergency horse joined the team instead.

The job of being a Selector would have to be one of the most thankless jobs in any sport and even more so perhaps in Equestrian where the fitness, ability and suitability of both horse and rider have to be considered. Jeff Evans, as the Chairman of Selectors and his Selectors have done a great job and no doubt there has been a lot of thought and soul searching gone into producing these lists this year.In a year where we have found ourselves with no team place at Athens Olympics and for the first time a great deal of "out in the open" discussion about the future of Australians in International Showjumping changes need to made and perhaps it is this open discussion which will see showjumping improve over the coming years, and as we now have a plethora of quality imported and home bred Sport Horses there can be no room for excuses such as "we don't have the horses" - it is now up to the riders, course designers and officials to work together to make sure the riders and horses are "up to the job" in time for the 2006 World Equestrian Games to ensure the Australians are competitive.

Official EFA Media Release

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