Featuring a field with Australian Senior Champions, World Championship representatives, and World Cup Final competitors in the mix, spectators were expecting a showdown and that is exactly what they got for the 2025 Australian Senior Championship.
Coming into today’s final all eyes were on field leaders Jamie Winning-Kermond and Tulara Wat Colblensky, and Tom McDermott with his two nominations of Cooley Gangster and Oaks Ventriloquist. Both had been outstanding across the qualifying rounds on Wednesday and Thursday.
International course designer David Sheppard set a testing track, with numerous rails falling to the ground in the first round of competition. Seasoned competitor Billy Raymont proved the elusive clear round was possible, completing a faultless first round on the young stallion Blue Balou PS. Fellow Queenslander Sam Overton put in a valiant effort with Conchita Van De Helle to acquire just a singular time penalty over the first round of competition.
Yandoo rider Emma Collins put in a fantastic effort with the small but mighty Oaks Abracadabra to add only four penalties to their existing score. Tom McDermott added four penalties to his score on both Oaks Ventriloquist and Cooley Gangster, with Jamie Winning-Kermond also picking up four penalties.
In the second round, it was Winning-Kermond’s to lose, but McDermott, aboard Oaks Ventriloquist, produced a masterclass clear that had the crowd holding its breath in anticipation for what was to come. As the tension built for his second ride and Winning-Kermond’s final attempt, it was clear the standard had been set sky-high.
When the dust settled, it was McDermott and Oaks Ventriloquist who emerged triumphant, claiming the 2025 Pet Circle Australian Senior Championship and the 32-year-old’s fourth senior win.
Emma Collins and Oaks Abracadabra placed second, ahead of Tom McDermott and Cooley Gangster in third. Jamie Winning-Kermond and Tulara Wat Colblensky placed fourth, while Sam Overton and Conchita Van De Helle rounded out the top five.
‘The horse is a legend’
Speaking to ClipMyHorse.TV Australia’s Martin Gostelow following his win, Tom McDermott said he was ecstatic with today’s result.
“My horses did their best… I couldn’t be more grateful!”
Bred by Alice Cameron of Oaks Sporthorses in Australia, rising 13-year-old Oaks Ventriloquist (Vivant x Rex Z) was originally owned and competed by Kate Hinschen before being purchased by Izabella Stone in 2022. Izabella rode him for much of his FEI career to date, taking him to Europe and competing with success.
Now owned by Tessa Newton, the horse has returned to Australia and Tom has recently picked up the reins.
“I’ve had the ride for a couple of months and have sat on him five or six times in the ring before. I know the horse quite well, as I coached Izabella Stone over in Europe,” explains McDermott.
For such a short partnership, it has certainly been successful: the duo placed second in the World Cup Qualifier at Willinga Park in September and won the World Cup Qualifier at Stonewall Equestrian last month.
Now, they are the 2025 Australian Senior Champions.
“I’m very thankful that the Newton family brought the horse back over to Australia… the rest is history really. We just take each day as it comes and have a bit of fun with him.”
With rain falling virtually non-stop all day, the conditions were challenging – but McDermott says Oaks Ventriloquist is the type that performs whatever the weather.
“They were tough conditions, but the ground is great here and the team at Boneo Park do such a great job preparing everything. The horse is a legend, and he will try his heart out wherever he is and whatever the weather… he’s the same in the wet and the same in the dry.”
The scores were tight among the top few competitors today, but McDermott certainly seems to thrive in these high-pressure situations – and he does that by trying to block out what others are doing and simply focusing on ensuring he and his horses jump to the best of their ability. That, and not putting too much pressure on himself.
“When you end up in a situation where the nerves come through, you treat them as ‘good nerves’. I tell all my pupils: nerves are a good thing, not a bad thing. You just have to try and thrive off them. Over the years I’ve learnt to thrive off them, and that’s just time in the ring really.”
As for looking ahead to Australian team representation – such as the 2026 FEI World Championships and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics – the newly crowned Australian champion is simply focused on taking each day as it comes.
“I’d definitely like to be on a team one day, when the right horse and the right time comes around. At this stage, we just get through this year and then see what next year and the following years hold.”
It wasn’t just a good day for McDermott himself – his wider team also enjoyed success. “I have a few select people that I coach, and I put all my effort into them. We reaped the rewards today… it’s been a great day for the team,” he explains.
One of those pupils is Charlie Magnier, who of course won the 2025 Australian Young Rider Championship title.
4CYTE Australian Young Rider Championship
Charlie Magnier showed the same calm under pressure as his coach to take out the 4CYTE Australian Young Rider Championship. Coming into the final in the lead, he and his long-term partner Notre Dame De Bourguignon delivered two flawless rounds to seal the title in style.
Alexander Jang and Parallax SCF finished second ahead of Cody Tincknell with Numero Too, while Tanner Robinson and Amenadiel claimed fourth. Claire Zylstra and Harvey B completed the top five, with Hayden Parker and Tulara Spangenberg in sixth.
Equestrian Life Australian Children’s Championship
Earlier this morning the first Championship of the 2025 Pet Circle Australian Jumping Championships was decided, with Eliza Abrahams and Emcee Street Wise taking out the Equestrian Life Australian Children’s Championship Final. Coming into the round on three penalties, Abrahams carried a narrow lead and no room for error, but under pressure she and the gelding delivered two immaculate rounds to secure the title, with not a rail to spare.
Queensland’s Harriet Smith and Oaks Conspiracy finished second on five penalties after a composed double clear, while Georgina Pillar and Joselands Patrick climbed into third, also completing the Championship fault-free. A brilliant display of precision and nerve from the sport’s rising stars.
Tune in for the final day of action with ClipMyHorse.TV
For those unable to attend Boneo Park and catch the action live, ClipMyHorse.TV is livestreaming competition from the main arena from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 November with expert commentary from Martin Gostelow.
Watch the action live via Equestrian Life, or live and on-demand with ClipMyHorse.TV.
Full results from the PetCircle Australian Jumping Championships can be found via Equipe.
Source: Boneo Park press release by Click Capture, interview by Equestrian Life.
