Gilbert Bockmann Clinic Day 1 a big success.

The elite riders national squad showjumping training clinic has successfully completed its first of three days.

The EFA National body have funded German Showjumping specialist Gilbert Bockmann to travel to Australia and conduct training clinics with our National elite riders.

The Sydney Showjumping Club is delighted to have been able to host the NSW division of this training tour at their Clarendon grounds.

Today's riders were all members of the NSWIS Eventing Squad coordinated by Judy Fasher and Brett Mace,the EFA's National High Performance Manager.

Gilbert Boeckmann has stepped in to see how he and the Elite Squad riders "get along" as Australian Showjumping was left without a Coach after the resignation of Jamie Coman recently.

Herr Boeckmann's CV reads well and he is familiar with Australia - well Victoria - having been the guest Judge for Jumping With the Stars in 2005. His name will no doubt be, by now, familiar to many horse people through his horse trailers which are available in Australia, we believe through Horseland, whose "main man" is also the Chairman of the Equestrian Federation of Australia, Mr Geoff Sinclair.

Philip Lever, son of Elite Squad member, Laurie Lever has been based in Germany with Gilbert for the past 12 months in a continuing arrangement - so there is a definite Australian/German alliance forming in showjumping.

The following is the official biography supplied by the EFA in their press release:
Gilbert Böckmann has won the German Championships on numerous occasions and is rated as one of the most talented jumping trainers in Europe. Gilbert has competed for many years on the International showjumping circuits and is currently listed on the German Jumping B Squad.

In November 2006 Gilbert competed with nine-year-old horses Böckmanns Olivia and HGF Can Fly at the ‘Fest der Pferde’ in Vienna, Austria, where he was named the most successful rider of the show. One week later, success continued in Rulle where he won the Masters with HGF Can Fly.

Gilbert is one of Europe’s most sought after showjumping coaches. Many American, Italian, Mexican and German clients head to Gilbert’s yard in Lastrup, Germany, for coaching. He has trained many of the best young riders, who are now on the professional circuit, including Mario Stevens
Mackan, Jens Dummeyer and Fritz Fevers and Westphalian junior jumping champion Charlotte Wrede.

In 2006 he divided his training commitments between those whom he trains in Germany, and clinics in Dubai, Mexico, USA and Italy. He takes immense interest in training riders from young rider level to international competitors and has a plethora of experience and training techniques from which he can draw.

These last 6 months the Böckmann stud has seen Gilbert present a new three year old Oldenburg stallion Check In (Cordalme x Lord Pezi x Lle de Bourbon) for licensing with a jumping score of 9.75 at the 30 day test at Redefin. 2007 will be the first competition season for this formidable jumper.

Could it be that Heath - pictured right - has offended officialdom with his outspokenness in print? Heath has been writing his controversial Ryans Rave in an Australian magazine for some 18 years now and it would appear that his role as an equestrian commentator is now offending someone!

Seems wrong that a competitor of the caliber of Mr Ryan would be left off Elite Squads for what seem to be petty, kindergarten reasoning - so there must be another reason he is not listed!

Pictured right - David Lawrence and Gilbert Boeckmann pose for their photo.

Report and photos courtesy Christine Johnson.