The Australian team of Jaimie Stichel, Teegan Ashby, Gabrielle Pither and Michaela Martindale (not pictured) won the Oceania Young Rider challenge Melbourne International 3 Day Event in 2014
We may be in between Olympic and World Equestrian Games years but 2017 will see the ‘in-between cycle’ European Championships at Strzegom in Poland and the 2017 Oceania Team Championships in the Southern Hemisphere
The Oceania Team Championships are the head to head battles between the two neighbours and eventing power houses, Australia and New Zealand. Previously known as the Trans-Tasman Championships, this year the Oceania Championships will take place at the Melbourne International 3 Day Event from 8th – 12th June and will feature the Senior (CCI3*) and Young Rider (CCI2*) Championships
New Zealand is hoping to help their up and coming riders transition through the Australian competition circuit said Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance director Sarah Dalziell-Clout in our recent interview and these Championships are an important stepping stone for Southern Hemisphere riders on both sides of the Tasman. With Clarke Johnstone and Jock Paget now both based in New Zealand, we may get some exciting high level competitors at Melbourne as well as up and coming talent
There are also plenty of stars to choose from on the Australian side and Equestrian Australia is now calling for expressions of interest from riders wishing to compete in the Australian teams – further information is available here
