Stephanie Mackillop on Yirrakala Exclusive in the Young Rider Finals at the 2015 Australian Showjumping Championships.

© Michelle Terlato

Stephanie Mackillop has been declared the winner of the National Young Rider Selection Series for Jumping for 2015.

19 year old Mackillop finished first of the overall leaderboard with her horse Yirrkala Exclusive.

"Having owned my beautiful Hanoverian mare Yirrkala Exclusive (Escudo I x Sensation mare) for just over a year I am ecstatic with this overall win in the National Young Rider Selection Series Event. I am thrilled with what we have achieved in such a short time from competing in D grade classes to stepping up into some very tough Young Rider, Mini Prix and Futurity events. I purchased Exclusive from Sue Knox of Yirrkala Stud on the Central Coast in December 2014 and have been training with Vicki Roycroft who has guided us under her watchful eye where Exclusive and I have formed a special trusting relationship. Since then I have attended a George Morris Clinic on her and competed successfully at Sydney Royal, the Australian Showjumping Championships in Werribee, NSW State Showjumping, Sydney’s Summer Classic, the Bega Showjumping Cup and many other top showjumping events. In 2016 I hope to compete in Grand Prix events and start working our way up to World Cup level. I am very excited about this talented mare and our future together in this sport. I have to keep pinching myself that she is really mine!"

The 2015 Young Rider series stretched for 12 rounds (two rounds staged in each state) and saw more than 70 combinations take part.

In an effort to standardise the competitions from state to state, the course used for all first round competitions and all second round competitions was built off a design by Kevin Tully, FEI Level Course Designer from Western Australia.

The National Young Rider Selection Series provides up and coming talent with the opportunity to gain valuable competition experience.

Media Release

Source: Equestrian Australia