Andrew Barnett and Go Tosca. Image by Gaby X Photography.

Australian eventing teams announced for 2024 Oceania Championships

Equestrian Australia recently announced the eventing teams set to represent Australia at the 2024 Oceania Championships in Hastings, New Zealand next year from 5-10 March.

“Receiving an excellent number of Expression of Interest applications from our well performed Eventing combinations, the Eventing Selectors had some difficult considerations to make to select just one Senior Team and one Young Rider Team,” announced the national sporting body on 15 December.

“The Oceania Championships provide athletes with an opportunity to gain Championship-level experience as a part of a representative team within our region. Historically, the EA High Performance Program’s strategy for the event is dedicated to developing emerging combinations, and for the Young Riders selected in 2024, this will be their first appearance on an Australian squad.”

For the Senior Team, EA has explained that there is a slightly different priority to previous years, with the Paris Olympics now less than a year away. “With the Olympics just around the corner, there is a need to prioritise this exposure piece in line with our intended performance outcome in Paris,” explained EA High Performance Director, Will Enzinger. “The 2024 Senior Oceania Team will, therefore, be selected with the mindset of exposure for less experienced combinations on their campaign to Paris.”

Congratulations to the following selected combinations and their connections:

Oceania Championships Senior Team

Andrew Barnett & Go Tosca (owned by Kate Burnheim)

Oliver Barrett & Sandhills Special (owned by Prue Barrett)

Olivia Barton & Henrik APH (owned by Carlene Barton)

Kenya Wilson & Sandros Salute MW (owned by Lynette Winteringham, Ian Campbell and Kenya Wilson.)

Unranked Reserve combinations

Sophia Hill & Humble Glory (owned by Sophia Hill)

Andrew Cooper & Sharvalley Thunder (owned by Sharen Gotts)

Oceania Championships Young Rider Team

Bethany Hirst & Sandhills Bliss (owned by Bethany Hirst)

Molly Lines & Tadpole (owned by Molly Lines)