The Australian Tokyo Olympic medal-winning team is among the squad that will contest the 2022 World Eventing Championships in Italy next month.
Equestrian Australia (EA) has revealed its squad of five, plus three reserves. Its selection panel, in consultation with the chef d’equipe, will select the team of four and one individual from the squad either at, or before, the first horse inspection in Pratoni (15 to 25 September).
Andrew Hoy (Vassily De Lassos), Kevin McNab (Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam) and Shane Rose (Virgil), who secured team silver at last year’s Olympics, are named as part of Australia’s World Championship squad for 2022.
The full squad, plus reserves, from which the Australian team and individual will be selected for the 2022 World Eventing Championships are as follows:
Andrew Hoy with 13-year-old gelding Vassily De Lassos
Owners: Paula and David Evans
Groom: Clémentine Girardeau
Shenae Lowings with 12-year-old gelding Bold Venture
Owner: rider
Groom: Olivia Barton
Kevin McNab with 14-year-old gelding Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam
Owners: Scuderia 1918 and Kevin’s wife, Emma McNab
Groom: Lucy Hartley
Kevin has also been selected with direct reserve ride, 15-year-old gelding Willunga
Owners: Samia Murgian and Emma McNab
Groom: Lucy Hartley
Shane Rose with 17-year-old gelding Virgil
Owner: Shane’s wife Niki Rose, and Michelle Hasibar
Groom: Jamie Atkinson
Hazel Shannon with 17-year-old gelding Willingapark Clifford
Owner: Terry Snow
Groom: Bronte Buttel
Reserves:
Sammi Birch with 12-year-old gelding Finduss PFB
Owner: Parkfield Breeding
Groom: Helen Tagg
Sam Lyle with 12-year-old gelding BF Valour
Owner: Charlotte Mavris
Groom: Natalya Bretherton
Jessica Rae with 14-year-old mare Fifth Avenue
Owner: rider
Groom: Laura Munt
Shane Rose with 10-year-old mare Easy Turn
Owners: Angela Shacklady and Niki Rose
Groom: Jamie Atkinson
It is 16 years since Australia won its last world eventing medals, when Clayton Fredericks took individual silver with Ben Along Time and the Australian team won bronze at Aachen in 2006.
Andrew Hoy, who is on this year’s squad with his Tokyo individual bronze and team silver medal-winning ride Vassily De Lassos, was part of the Australian team that won bronze in 1986 with Just James, and Master Monarch in 2006, where Australia again collected team bronze.
This will be a first senior championship for Hazel Shannon and Shenae Lowings.
EA high performance director Chris Webb said that the breadth of experience is an “indication of the strength of Australia’s developing talent”.
“It is fantastic to see not only our successful Tokyo 2020 eventing team medallists named, but also combinations who are making their FEI World Championships debut, demonstrating the depth of our eventing talent,” he said.
“Furthermore, Sam Lyle and Jessica Rae, who have been named on the reserves list, recently travelled overseas with the support of the EA high performance program and subsequently had the opportunity to compete on a Nations Cup team at Haras du Pin, providing them with valuable team experience that will benefit their future championship campaigns.”
You might also be interested in:
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
Bluffer’s guide to the World Eventing Championships – the jumps, the scoring and more
British team named for World Eventing Championships: squad debutante joins familiar faces
Pippa Roome: ‘It’s time to get on board with the World Championships – it’s not WEG’
Planning on going to the World Championships at Pratoni? Check out these places to stay…
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.