Saddleworld VEIS Grand Final 2014 - Day 1 Showjumping Report

The final show jumping stage of the inaugural Saddleworld VEIS Grand Final was a fantastic success, with Toorak College taking out the Annie White Trophy for the champion show jumping school in Victoria. The trophy honours Annie’s ongoing contribution to the development of junior show jumping in Victoria.

With contributors at all levels, Toorak’s captain Lily Wickenden was delighted with the success. Toorak’s show jumping team led the Series throughout, with the team boasting two state team representative riders in Matilda Alexander and Jasmine Dennison. The St. Margaret’s Berwick team finished 2nd, narrowly ahead of Hillcrest Christian College who were 3rd in the team competition.

In the top 125cm Stars level, Jasmine Dennison aboard Bubble & Squeak took out the Series championship – but only after taking an unplanned bath in Werribee Park’s notorious mud! Toorak College were in fact 1-2-3 in the Stars championship with Jasmine also taking the Reserve award on her second horse Fosbury Flop, and Matilda Alexander on the super-talented Dreamtime Invader finishing third after her top Grand Final performance.

In the Advanced 115cm level, Ashleigh Terlato from St. Margaret’s continued her dominance of this class on Mr. Flash to claim a run-away win in the overall Series championship. Tameisha Kelly from Hillcrest Christian College had a great Grand Final day to finish second, enough to just edge teammate Gabrielle Lovett out of Reserve Champion on the series leader board.

Above - Toorak College- the winning showjumping team

David Charman ensured the St.Margaret’s Berwick Grammar team enjoyed further success by taking out the Intermediate 105cm championship. David and his mount Stolen Monarch were superb in posting clear rounds in every class across the competition. Ruby Conlan’s 3rd place at the Grand Final on the infamous Llewellyn Hotshot propelled her into the Reserve Champion position for the Series and ensured her a place in the Victorian team at the Interschool Nationals in October.

In the Progressive 95cm level, Ivanhoe Grammar’s Jessica Grant on Blackall Park Surprise took home the wonderful Saddleworld Series Champion rug after a hard fought Grand Final win. Annabel Nelson continued her consistent performances across the Series to win the Reserve Champion award. Primary School rider Bianca Lock finished third overall which gave her a place in the Vic team in the Primary School section.

The Improvers 85cm was won by Jessica Brown from Beaconhills College on board her magical pocket rocket Lakevale Wizard. Tegan McKenzie’s 2nd position on Josh showed how much progress the Hillcrest Christian College team have made under the equestrian program at Ayr Hill. Jessica Hivon capped off her stunning debut season with a 2nd place in the Grand Final and 3rd place in the Series. Jessica is certainly one to watch out for in the future.

The 75cm Encourage class was very competitive, with St. Michael’s Grammar Ginger Jilly taking out the Series Championship after a cracking jump-off performance in the Grand Final Grand Prix class. Alex Syme on Rockerbillie from Toorak College was the Reserve Champion, an outstanding effort in her first season of competition.

The 60cm Freshman class was dominated all year by Haileybury’s Saffron Wardrop-Brown. Saffron won the Series title convincingly, with Rohan Lock from Wallington Primary finishing 2nd.

Saddleworld’s support of the VEIS Grand Final meant that all Champions and Reserve Champions were rewarded with fabulous prizes, and their sponsorship highlights the effort they are making to support the development of equestrian sport at the grass roots level.

Above - Showjumping Series Winners

Siobhan Laffan from Assumption College who finished 3rd in the Encourage class summed up all of the riders’ sentiments; “we certainly enjoyed being part of this year’s VEIS series with the Saddleworld Grand Final format providing extra motivation and excitement. We are already looking forward to next year’s series!”

Saddleworld VEIS Grand Final 2014 - Day 2 Dressage Report

The second day of the Saddleworld VEIS grand final was held at the National Equestrian Centre at Werribee on Sunday 3rd August with unseasonal bright sunshine after a couple of the coldest nights on record. As the ice was scraped off the Judges boxes the day kicked off early with some of the States best young Dressage Riders offering a spectacular display on their magnificently prepared mounts.

Classes ranged from Preparatory to Novice for the Primary aged children and from Preliminary right up to Advanced level for the Secondary students. The day and the 2014 State Championship School was finally decided with Braemar College from Woodend taking out the title of Champion VEIS Dressage Team 2014. Braemar’s win comes of the back of three successful years as the VEIS Champion overall school in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Second placed Geelong Grammar narrowly edged out Haileybury by a single point after 12 months of competition and with Haileybury fielding a team of almost 40 riders they will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.

Individual results included Advanced, Tayla Desmet (pictured left) from Melbourne Girls Grammar on her mount CS Eastern Ridge who has qualified for a spot in the EA State team to represent Victoria at the Upcoming National interschool series.

In the Medium section Michaela Bray from Ivanhoe Grammar and Genevieve Brand from Braemar College will represent the state with Victoria Meyer from Assumption College Kilmore and Georgette Sanchez from Geelong Grammar in the Elementary section.

Other representatives decided on the day were Lily Thompson from Haileybury College and Isabel Cusworth from Geelong Grammar in the Novice Senior, Natasha Moody from St Margaret’s and Lucy Stuart Braemar College in Novice Intermediate. Abbey Martin Braemar College who had qualified earlier in July in for the Novice Primary section won the day and Jessica Hivon, G.S. Lutheran Primary second and Lucy Peters, Kardinia International third will move up into the qualifying positions for the state team in Novice Primary.

Above - Braemar College riders - the winning Dressage team.

Brooke Pearse Braemar and Madeline Manton Assumption shone through in the huge Preliminary Secondary class whilst Emily Fisher Shelford Primary and Abbey Martin, Braemar College on her second horse took out the Primary Preliminary class.

Above - Abby Martin wins for Braemar College. She is pictured with the school Principal, Russell Deere.

In the Preparatory class the ponies were prepared and shining and ready to go and it was great to see so many tiny competitors decked out in their finest dressage attire ready to compete. These competitors really are the stars of tomorrow and the competition was friendly but also business like. In the end Sophie Taylor from Christian College Geelong and Sasha Tivey from Geelong Grammar took the placings as Champion and Reserve Champion respectively.

As on the previous day Saddleworld the naming right sponsor of the VEIS Dressage Championships showed their generosity and provided all the winners with Rugs and Saddle blankets showing their commitment to grass roots equestrian events and the development of young riders and no doubt stars of the future.

Milton Collins (left) member of the event committee and Team Leader for the Geelong Grammar School said ....

"It was a fantastic two days with some stars of the future giving rise to great optimism for Australian equestrian sport. We are very thankful to all Saddleworld stores for getting behind the VEIS Grand Final, the rugs and rosettes gives our young riders something to stive for and this event gives them an ongoing goal. Thanks Saddleworld!"

Go To Results

For further details or comment please contact ;

      Milton R Collins
e-mail:  miltoncollins@conson.com.au

     (03) 5427 3744
     0419 46 4444

For a look at photos from the event, GO TO the DROPBOX
Photos may be purchased from
Sharlene Phillips Owner/Artist/Photographer 
OneEyedFrog Photography http://www.oneeyedfrog.com.au/