Strong Young Rider Team Selected to take on the Aussies
Thursday, 20 November 2014

New Zealand has named an experienced young rider team to take on the Australians next month at the National Young Horse Jumping Championships in Hastings.

The team – Melody Matheson (Hastings), Olivia Robertson (Christchurch), Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) and Emily Fraser (Feilding), with reserve Rose Alfeld (Christchurch) – will take on their Aussie counterparts on borrowed horses over three days at the show.

Fraser is the current Youth Olympics showjumping champion, having won gold in Nanjing this year. Weal is at the top of the Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider Series, with Matheson not far behind her in third spot, and Robertson also in the top eight.

Jumping performance coaching director Jeff McVean says he’s chuffed with the team, who competed successfully in Australia in September when they beat New South Wales.

“It is quite some time since we have had an Australia versus New Zealand young rider competition,” said McVean. “Recently, they have been the New Zealanders against states. This is a good team and they’ve got experience on their side.”

Each of the riders has to supply two good horses for the competition pool.

Chef d’equipe for the team – the first to be selected under the new high performance regime – is Richard Sunderland.

The champs run from December 12-14 at the Dannevirke A and P Showgrounds.

Hopes are high a reciprocal competition will be held in Australia next year.