Source: Equestrian Australia.

Tomorrow,  a team of four Young Riders will travel to New Zealand on the trip of a lifetime representing Australia at the Larsen Sawmilling Showjumping Championships taking place in Gisborne from 25^th – 27^th January.

The Trans-Tasman challenge is an annual event hosted by New Zealand, welcoming friendly competition and the opportunity to experience being in a team environment. The event has traditionally seen a gripping battle between the nations, in a display of exciting and close competition.

The competition will take place on borrowed horses, provided by the New Zealand team, introducing an additional challenge to the riders over a 1.20m course.

The Australian Team this year is made up of Lucie Aldridge, Clemency Hughes and Lucy Evans, all from NSW as well as Queenslander Cameron Moffatt.

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Australia last won the event in 2017 and the excitement is building as this year’s team prepares to make the journey and regain the title. Chef d’Equipe, Todd Hinde, will accompany the riders to New Zealand. Hinde also held the same role for the Australian Jumping Team at last year’s World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina where Australia finished in a history making sixth place in the teams competition, qualifying for Tokyo Olympics 2020.

“Riding for your country in a team is an honour. Borrowed horse competitions like Larsen’s give young riders such as Lucie, Cameron, Clem and Lucy the opportunity to gain the valuable experience of representing their country, and learning what it’s like to be on a team, and all that comes with it.

Travelling away from home, facing media and working together to obtain the best team score are all new elements. Being selected to be part of a team at a young age is an experience that will help these riders develop their skills and grow their riding ambition. I look forward to the upcoming competition with these four young riders, who represent the future of jumping” said Hinde.

We will be following the progress of our Australian Young Rider Team. We wish the team all the best for the coming week’s competition in  New Zealand.

Equestrian Australia asked these young riders how they felt about their upcoming adventure.

“I feel proud and honoured that I’ve been selected into such a strong team, its been one of my main goals for a few years now. I’m looking forward to the experience it will provide, to be able to meet new people and experience such a quality show overseas” Cameron Moffatt

“It’s really exciting and a privilege to be selected onto this team. We have such a cool team going to New Zealand and I hope I play my part well!  I am really looking forward to competing on borrowed horses and competing in a team against some very talented New Zealand riders. I am also looking forward to hanging out with our team members and getting to know and socialise with riders from New Zealand. I have heard it’s a really fun experience and I am very excited to be part of it…also looking forward to the house on the beach!” Clemency Hughes

“I was so excited to be selected on the team. Riding in New Zealand for Australia will just be so amazing and the other team members are all so nice and extremely talented, we’ll have a great time. I’m excited to meet the other team and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of us all competing on horses we’ve never ridden. It will be such a good experience and a great opportunity.” Lucie Aldridge

“The idea of going over with a team to represent Australia is really exciting for me and I’m really looking forward to the experience of competing on different horses at a show I have never been to before.Competing as a team for a change instead of competing individually, and also getting a taste of what the New Zealand shows are like.” Lucy Evans