Alison Rowland and Bickley Brook Bella Photo: Michelle Terlato
Australia’s Nations Cup team will have two debutants amongst its ranks for the Furusiyya FEI Jumping Nations Cup event in Lisbon, Portugal.
EA today confirmed the four member team that will contest the June 6-9 event will include rookies Evie Buller (Yalambi Landor) of Western Australia and Queensland’s Olivia Hamood (GH Eternal Flame) as well as past Nations Cup representatives Alison Rowland (Bickley Brook Bella) and Rory Hovell (Val Val D’Isere). National Performance Director for Jumping Annie Lever will accompany the team as Chef d’Equipe.
While it won’t be their first time representing Australia - Evie was a member of the 2012 young rider Trans-Tasman team and Hamood a member of the Australian team which competed at the 2009 Youth Olympic Festival – it will be the first time both will step up to the senior ranks.
As well as gaining experience from competing alongside accomplished riders, the duo will benefit from a training clinic facilitated by Australia’s international jumping coach Gilbert Boeckmann, who will provide training and support for the entire team leading into the event, as well as throughout the competition.
“This Australian team will be strongly positioned to take on the Lisbon Nations Cup event after training with one of the world’s leading jumping coaches in Gilbert Boeckmann.
“The time spent with Gilbert leading into the event will also give the four elite squad riders a chance to work on their training and competition goals as well as work in consultation with the High Performance team to develop a 12 month plan which will involve sessions with Gilbert,” said National Performance Director for Jumping, Annie Lever.
Australian based elite squad riders will have an opportunity to work with Gilbert later in the year.