Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Showjumpers Selected for Tokyo to Complete Australian Equestrian Team

The Australian Olympic Equestrian Team for Tokyo has been finalised, with Edwina Tops-Alexander, Jamie Kermond and Katie Laurie selected by the Australian Olympic Committee.

 

Today’s selection of the three jumpers completes

the nine-strong Equestrian team set to represent Australia at the Games, with the dressage and eventing teams named last week.

 

FULL ATHLETE BIOS AVAILABLE HERE

 

Tops-Alexander will compete in her fourth Olympics, while Kermond and Laurie will both make their Australian Olympic debut in Tokyo.

 

Kermond will ride Yandoo Oaks Constellation, owned by Kerrie Winning, and will be supported by groom Cody Mulder. Despite Tokyo being the first Olympics for the combination they are no strangers to success in the international arena, having been part of the 2018 World Equestrian Games Team which secured Australia’s team quota for Tokyo 2020.

 

Laurie will ride Casebrooke Lomond, co-owned by Katie and Jackson Laurie with Sheena Ross, and will be assisted by groom Ashlyn Cuku. Laurie has ridden Casebrooke Lomond throughout his entire 10-year career, taking on the ride when the horse was just 3- years old.

 

Tops-Alexander will head to Tokyo with the 13-year-old bay mare Identity Vitseroel, a horse she owns herself and with whom she has been partnered with since 2019. Reesa Pihu, Tops-Alexander’s long-time groom, will aid the experienced combination at the Games.

 

Tops-Alexander said she is honoured to ride at her fourth Olympics.

 

“I’m once again honoured to be chosen to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics,” she said. “Although it will be a slightly different Olympics it’s the one everyone has been waiting for.  

 

“It’s already an achievement in itself to be selected, and it’s a chance to proudly represent Australia which doesn’t happen that often for the showjumping team.

 

“It means a lot to me to represent my country in the best possible way and I want to wish everyone else the best of luck”

 

Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo - Equestrian

Name

Discipline

Age

Olympic Games

Suburb

State

Postcode

Jamie Kermond

Jumping

36

Debut

Ebenezer

NSW

2756

Katie Laurie

Jumping

35

Debut

Lives Alberta, Canada

CAN

 

Edwina Tops-Alexander

Jumping

47

4th (2008, 2012, 2016)

Sydney

 

NSW

2000

Chris Burton

Eventing

39

3rd (2012, 2016)

Born Toowoomba

QLD

4350

Andrew Hoy

Eventing

62

8th (1984-2004, 2012)

Born Culcairn

NSW

2660

Shane Rose

Eventing

48

3rd (2008, 2016)

Werombi

NSW

2570

Mary Hanna

Dressage

66

6th (1996, 2000, 2004, 2012, 2016)

Bellarine

VIC

3222

Simone Pearce

Dressage

29

Debut

Born Bendigo

VIC

3550

Kelly Layne

Dressage

46

Debut

Born Southport

QLD

4215

 

The showjumping team reserve combination will be Rowan Willis and Blue Movie, whom Willis co-owns with David and Elsa Willis, Renee Willis, Michael and Wendy Jackson and Warren Coventry. The combination will travel alongside the selected team to Japan and will be supported by groom Robert Buniowski.

 

Today’s announcement takes the number of athletes selected to 324 of an expected 450-480. Catch all the team info, stats and athlete bios at www.olympics.com.au/games/tokyo-2020/team/

 

The Equestrian competition will run from 24 July – 7 August at Tokyo’s Equestrian Park.

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