Australia's senior jumping team wins toss
Thursday, 19 September 2013

Australia's senior jumping team consisting of Jamie Kermond, Tom McDermott, Sharon Slater and Shane Davidson has elected to go second in tomorrow's opening round of the 2013 Oceania Championships after Chef d-Equipe Vicki Roycroft won the coin toss against New Zealand late this afternoon.

The Aussies will be aiming to take command of the two round series which is being held in conjunction with this year’s Australian Show Jumping Championships (which started today at the Werribee Park Equestrian Centre) and the Royal Melbourne Show.

Earlier today Jamie Kermond and his team horse Colthaga gave the Australians a confidence boost when they took victory with a clear round in the opening day class of the senior championships.

The combination were first to go and Kermond was pleased to post a strong start with his Australian team horse.

“Colthaga came out early and she jumped fantastic. (My second horse) Valhalla was very good too but was unlucky to have a rail down.

“It’s great to be here riding in the championships but it’s still early days and I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” he said.

Australia’s young rider team will also be feeling positive after team members Tom McDermott and Nicole Bruggermann finished the opening day class of the young rider Championships in first and second respectively.

As well as representing Australia in the senior and young rider team’s event, McDermott has the added task of defending the Australian senior and young rider titles. He’ll line up in the young rider team’s event on Saturday and will stake his claim on the two individual titles on Sunday.

The Australian and New Zealand teams will attend a welcome ceremony later this evening where the Australian senior and young rider teams will be presented with their team shirts and saddlecloths.

Full results from all classes contested on day one are available at http://www.asjc.equestrian.org.au