Australian show jumping team announced for Tokyo games
The Australian Olympic Equestrian Team for Tokyo has been finalized, with Edwina Tops-Alexander, Jamie Kermond, and Katie Laurie selected by the Australian Olympic Committee. The 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.
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 since 2019. Reesa Pihu, Tops-Alexander’s long-time groom, will aid the experienced combination at the Games.
“I’m once again honored to be chosen to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics. 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”
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.
The 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/
