Australian Showjumping Championships

Werribee Jeep -the naming right sponsor of the Australian Showjumping Championships for 2015.  We are very pleased to announce that Werribee Jeep have extended their support of the Australian Showjumping Championship for another year by coming on board as the naming right sponsor of the event.  We welcome David Strapp and his team at Werribee Jeep and thank them very sincerely for this sponsorship.  If you haven’t already checked out the massive showroom located at 165 Old Geelong Road, do yourself a favour and do so.

ASJC is to be held 17th – 20th of September at WPNEC.  The event website is now operational and gearing up to be a useful resource for those intending to ride as competitors, volunteers, traders, sponsors and spectators.  It is located at asjc.com.au  As the forms, schedules and information become available you can keep up to date through this website, or becoming a “friend” of the ASJC facebook page “ASJC Aust Jumping Championships” 
If you wish to be involved with this premier date in the national jumping calendar as a sponsor, volunteer or trader you are welcome to contact Annie at jumping@equestrianvictoria.com.au so that the relevant information can be forwarded to you as it becomes available.  We take this opportunity to thank Fiona Brennan, Amanda Day and Trish and Wes Joyce for all their efforts in the previous events.

Horse Registration Changes for Jumping riders

The Equestrian Victoria Board passed a motion to again allow unregistered horses compete at levels below 1.05m.  This will be very well received by the jumping fraternity as it was felt by the Jumping Victoria committee that this keeps a very encouraging pathway open to entry into EA competitions and allows breeders and competitors some leeway in deciding if a horse has a jumping future without incurring huge expense.  Congratulations to the Board on this common sense decision which brings Victoria back in line with the other states. 

Attention Grand Prix riders:

The National HPP are hosting an Oliver Lazarus clinic to be held in Sydney for the National Squads.  If all spots are not taken up, there may be an opportunity for Grand Prix level competitors to be offered a position.  If you wish further information you can contact Annie at jumping@equestrianvictoria.com.au.
Expressions of Interest for Coaches of Young Rider Squad and the YR squad nominations are due so be sure to get yours in.

Para Equestrians getting organized

Last week many of Victoria’s active Para Equestrians and their supporters met at Balmoral E.C. to discuss ways to grow their sport. Several positive ideas were discussed. Cooperation between RDA and EA Para riders was seen as the best way to ensure growth of P.E. Gaining representation from this P.E. group at Dressage Victoria meetings was seen as another step forward. To gain complete integration of P.E. and E.A. competition the meeting felt that P.E. riders could take a more active role in their local Dressage Clubs. The funding of ramps at some venues is also an important aim of this group.

Dressage Victoria Meet

At the recent D.V. meeting concern was raised about the misuse of our intellectual property, the EA Dressage Tests. Within our organisation a $1.00 levy is charged for every EA test that is ridden. It appears that some unaffiliated groups are using our IP (tests) without permission, without adherence to the accompanying rules and without paying the levy. D.V. will continue to monitor this issue.
D.V. discussed the number of judges used at competitions. Understandably most riders would like two experienced judges for every EA test. The National rules show that 2 judges are mandatory at some levels, strongly recommended at others and only one judge at others. The D.V. committee working with the DJEP have requested two judges should be used whenever possible even in the classes requiring only one. We have suggested to ADC that these conditions be re-examined to include the better use of our “H” level judges.
Para Equestrian judges will need accreditation. As DJEP has not been able to conduct a Para Equestrian clinic yet Victoria has a dispensation until this clinic is conducted.
Late entries to weekly dressage competitions has become more common recently. Some OC have found the trend challenging. We agreed that it did make finalising draws and judges etc. more difficult than it ought to be. We looked at NSW method of dealing with late entries. A late entry fee and first on the draw is one system. DV committee will consider a uniform late entry policy for the next 2015/16 Handbook.
We older riders remember when long reserve lists for lower levels meant no chance of a late entry. A number of recent club competitions have shown a clear increase in entries and the re-emergence of reserve lists. Perhaps this alone will solve the late entry issue.