Junior 

Star*Squad 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report to EvNSW April 2010 

 

Squad Clinic 

The Eventing NSW Nutririce Junior Star* Squad held a successful inaugural Clinic at Silver Hills, following the ODE, on 5th and 6th April. 
Most of the Squad was able to attend, with a few vacancies made up by emerging riders on the 1* scene, plus a couple of Young Riders, 
who we hope to start incorporating into the overall Youth Development program. Squad Coaches Sam Lyle and Sharmayne Spencer took 
time to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each participant, looked at videos of recent performances, and held in-depth interviews with 
Squad Members. This was followed up by intensive, targeted coaching sessions in dressage, jumping and cross country, plus invaluable 
sessions with Derek Major - renowned Agnes Banks performance horse vet, FEI vet and Chairman of ENSW. Thanks to Eventing NSW, 
Bronwyn Doong and Silver Hills, and Nutririce - plus the riders, their horses, and their amazing support crews, and especially to Norm and 
Judy Hindmarsh for organising and running the clinic. The riders all showed dedication, enthusiasm and respect; watched each other's 
sessions and offered mutual support and encouragement. Eventing culture at its best was definitely in evidence here! 

 

 

Squad Members at the Silver Hills Clinic April 5-6 2010 

 

Results 

Junior athletes have had good results at events since the announcement of the Squad. At Scone, Emma Hindmarrsh and CP Brown were 7th 
in the 2** while Hayley Frielick and Bentleigh Oliver were 8th in the 1*. At Silver Hills, Emma and Brownie backed up their success with a 2nd 
in the 2**, while Jack McAnulty put in a great run on the experienced Covers for a 2nd in the 1*, while Emily Pursehouse and Carbean’s 
Mystery were 4th, and new Squad hopeful, Kirby Delamont and Unrepentant were 8th. Berrima saw Andrew Cooper in fine form, winning the 
strong CIC 1* class on Guest of Honour. New NSW resident, Tara Sheridan and Prince Solomon had an outstanding result in the 2** with a 
4th place. The recent Albury CIC saw a number of Squad members gaining good qualifying results in the 1* class, with Tara Sheridan again 
showing great form for a 5th in the CIC2*. At Nyngan, Jack McAnulty took out the Intro and the 1* class, with Emma Hindmarsh second in 
Intro on a youngster. 

 

Upcoming Events 

While the Weekend of World Cups to be held at SIEC in May will be a World Cup event (for both eventing and showjumping), its format as a 
CIC does not allow for a separate Junior competition. However we expect that most the Squad will be there in force, taking advantage of 
riding at such a first class facility and at such a prestigious event. The first BIG event for Juniors is the Melbourne International Three Day 
Event, which will run from June 11th-14th at Werribee Park. This is a CCI*J, and as such, involves a State Teams event, hotly contested by 
the various States - and taken very seriously by all! NSW intends to field a full team, and we understand that at least eight Squad members 
have indicated they will be competing, so there will certainly be hot competition for a Team spot. Of course, all NSW Juniors competing at 
Melbourne will be able to access the pre-training and assistance at the event – whether or not they make “The Team”. 

 

Upcoming Clinics 

The Star Squad athletes will be offered a “pre-Melbourne” clinic over two days at a central location to assist in preparation for this big event. 
The Squad will also attend the Winter Camp at Camden in early July. 

 

 

 


 

Squad Organisation 

As this is the first year of the Eventing NSW Nutririce Junior Star* Squad, we are looking to be inclusive and fair, and to develop a policy 
which is clear and coherent. Obviously, riders suffer disappointments, horses have injuries and training setbacks, school and work have their 
unexpected demands, and things don’t necessarily go to plan. Meanwhile, more young athletes start to come through the ranks - hopefully 
via the Development Squads - and become established at 1* level – and these don’t always occur to a timetable which agrees with the 
calendar year. Our sponsorship deal with Nutririce is for a maximum of 12 riders. So, for this year we will revise the Squad on a six-monthly 
basis. New athletes who have become established at 1* and above, and/or who have become NSW residents may be included on the squad 
and unfortunately some riders may have to become “Associate” Squad Members if their performances in the previous six months have not 
been up to expectations. These riders will still be invited to attend clinics but will no longer have the Nutririce feed sponsorship. 

 

We also have plans to extend the scope of the Squad to Young Riders (technically, those competing at 2**, aged 16-21 years). Many former 
Juniors really start to hit their straps when they finish school and are able to concentrate harder on their eventing careers, and they can 
benefit enormously from the help available from our Squad coaches and clinics. For this reason, we have started to target those riders aged 
18-21 who are competing at 1* and above, who are not already on NSWIS or National Squads, and offer them access to Squad clinics and 
assistance at events. This was commenced at the Silver Hills Autumn Squad, with several Young Riders benefiting enormously from the 
resources available at the clinic. 

 

Communication 

 

Having developed a Newsletter (very similar to this Report) we have made a number of suggestions to the Squad Members regarding the 
best ways of staying in touch: via Links to the websites of the various Federations (national and international) as well as event websites. 

 

We devised an online Survey, to test the effectiveness (in theory) of our first clinic and first Quarter of administering the Squad. 

 

We encourage and welcome open communication from Squad athletes – and have suggested to them the following: 

. Any questions, feedback, suggestions or ideas are welcome, via phone, email, FB or snail mail. Vicki Burgess, Secretary of 
EvNSW, is also a great point of contact, and can almost always give a very prompt, supportive and factual response to any 
question regarding eventing. 
. Please consider contacting your sponsors – Nutririce and EvNSW - when you have enjoyed success at an event or gained 
experience at a Clinic. Your personal thanks are both good manners and good practice. 
. New FEI medication controls have come into force, and athletes are required to keep a log of all medications given to horses. A 
logbook is available for downloading from the EA National website. Please let us know if you are planning on entering major Three 
Day Events so we can plan assistance prior to and at the event, should you require it. This will also help us in planning potential 
teams. It’s also important to remember to renew your EA membership, your horse’s EA Eventing Card validation (due in July each 
year), FEI registration for yourself and your horse/s (at the start of the calendar year) and your EvNSW membership. 
. If you can’t compete at an event for any reason, please consider offering your services as a volunteer, if the event is conveniently 
located. You will gain enormous insight into your sport and will learn an unbelievable amount by doing such fun and not-at-all 
mundane jobs as dressage penciling and jump judging. Volunteering will be well-regarded by Squad Co-ordinators! 
. If we have any details incorrectly recorded/published (your horse’s name, your placing at an event) please don’t hesitate to let us 
know. We also welcome photos from events and clinics. 


 

 

Hayley and Emma model their sponsor’s shirts and their prizes at Mt Arthur Scone Horse Trials. 

 

 

 

 

Norm Hindmarsh 0429862854 

Camilla Mowbray 02 9653 2844