Australian National Vaulting Championships

CVI** International and Australian National Vaulting Championships held at SIEC 9-12 October 2008.

135 Competitors from around Australia, New Zealand, Canada & USA attended the event.

Congratulations to the National Champion and winner of the CVI** Tristyn Lowe from Canberra and to the National Team which was the South Australia Vaulting Academy.

Nine vaulters represented Sydney Vaulting Group including our first entry at this level in Team Events. Below is the Team Freestyle performed on Lord Louis, our awesome teams horse.

Krystle Lander did us proud coming 4th in the CVI** with her personal best score. Below is Krystle's freestyle performance from the final round of competiton. Krystle is performing on Sam our amazing Arabian Warmblood gelding. Also competing on behalf of SVG in the CVI* were Clare Watts, Mellissa Thompson and Jayme Lennon, who's performances we were all amazing.

One outstanding performance was from 11 year old Eliza Wark-Chapman who excelled in C grade to win the class. Eliza will now step up to B grade, making her one of the youngest competitors in Australia to be competing at this level. Below is Eliza's freestyle on Sam.

Our most adored team member was our new horse Santa, who after less than 3months training was used solely by the N.Z team in the CVI* Competition. Santa is a very talented 17.1 hh warmblood with an outstanding temperament who stepped up to this level of competition taking the unfamiliar freestyle routines in his stride.

Another crowd pleaser was the pas de deux performed by Chelsea Light and Eliza Wark-Chapman, who came second place to the outstanding performance by the two A graders, Emma Moulds and Samantha Young from SA. Chelsea and Eliza's combined age was still less than either of their competitors.

CVI* had the highest numbers of B grade competitors in event in Australia. Clare & Mellissa fared well against the strong competition.