“The Aussies will be strong, too, so we are all looking forward to a good competition.”
Australia reigned supreme both times the two nations met last year — in Gisborne and Sydney — the first time since 2017 they had claimed the honours, and they’ll be hungry to retain it.
The 1.2-metre competition is run over three days. There are two rounds a day and riders swap between two pools of borrowed mounts.
It is the second call-up to the young rider team for Rutland and Wylaars while Bibby has previously been a reserve and Gillies will make her debut.
Wylaars, 17, says the competition is a great way to experience a team environment.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of adjusting to the different horses in the competition,” she says. “It is a fun and different competition to ride in.”
Rutland, 16, is “stoked” to be named.
“I am happy to see some of my hard work paying off,” he says. “I know the Aussies will be pretty good so I’m looking forward to it. I am used to riding all sorts of different horses, so that will be helpful.”
Bibby, 19, who represented New Zealand at the 2022 Youth Equestrian Games at CHIO Aachen in Germany, is chuffed to be in the team.
“There are a lot of good riders around at the moment so I am pretty happy to be named,” he says. “It’s going to be great to be jumping in that team environment again. I learned a lot when I went to Aachen.”
Gillies was “ecstatic” to get the call-up.
“I have been trying hard to get my achievements up there so this is exciting. I am looking forward to everything and am just so grateful to be part of the team.”
'We have quality over quantity for the show': Kaye
The Aussie team are Jack Barker, 16, Hayden Parker, 18, Elissa Stevens, 16 and Cody Ticknall, 18. Olivia Price is reserve.
Parker was in both recent winning Australian young rider teams and was fifth overall in the senior championship at the Victorian State Showjumping Championships last year.
Stevens won the 2023 Magic Millions juniors and the junior showjumping at the Royal Adelaide Show two years ago.
Barker was the overall junior champion at the 2023 Australian Showjumping Championships and won the New South Wales State Showjumping Young Rider Championships, alongs with the Stal Tops Australian Young Rider Series in 2023.
Ticknall was runner-up to Barker in the series and took out the junior championship at the Caboolture World Cup Show.
The Trans-Tasman young rider competition is part of the Larsen Sawmilling Champs. President of the ground jury Kaye Williams says the grounds are looking magnificent.
Donella Still is designing the courses in Ring 1, Edward Bullock in Ring 2 and Sandy Richmond in the show hunter arena.
“We have quality over quantity for the show,” says Kaye, also tipping her hat to the committee.
“They are an amazing group of young ones who have stepped up and done a great job.”
• The show gets under way on Friday and runs through to Sunday at Showgrounds Park.
