National Vaulting Championships - 25th Anniversary

October 5th to 8th 2023 promises fans and participants in the sport of Vaulting four days of grace, artistry and athleticism that will delight the senses. Competitors and enthusiasts alike will gather at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) for the national championships and celebration of quarter of a century devoted to the development of this equestrian sport in Australia.

The Vaulting NSW Committee is looking forward to welcoming vaulters from New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland with 38 horses, 124 vaulters and their support crews who will be taking part in the four-day fixture.

A spokesperson said, “we are delighted that Vaulters, coaches, lungers, fans and horses will be coming from all over the country to celebrate more than 25 years of vaulting in Australia and we expect that the event will create awareness and an opportunity to grow the fan base of the sport.”

“Unlike most equestrian sports, Vaulting is a true team activity with classes that promote a spirit of camaraderie and working together for the satisfaction of team achievement.”

“The competition starts each day with a 'Horse Development' class, where lungers have the opportunity to bring in new or green horses for experience in the competition circle. The competition moves into the required 'compulsory' rounds, where vaulters perform a series of 5 required moves either at the walk or canter. In the afternoon, the competitors perform freestyle routines on the stationary barrel.”

“On Friday 6th October following another horse development class, the Open Level vaulters will perform their Technical Test, which is made up of a set of five prescribed moves set to music. The Advanced Level vaulters will then perform their first round of freestyles and some of our younger vaulters will perform their individual tests.”

“On Saturday, the Open Vaulters Freestyle event will be held after the Horse Development class and this part of the competition is spectacular to watch. Several of our Open vaulters have competed internationally, and it is a special highlight to have a chance to watch the routines of Australia’s best. The younger vaulters will compete on Sunday morning, with PDD barrel events in the afternoon.”

Presentations will take place at the end of each day, with the Australian National Awards to be presented on Sunday, the final day of competition.”

“On Friday evening the 6th October, Vaulting NSW will hold an activities night that will follow the awards presentations. On Saturday night there will be a 25th Anniversary Dinner that promises to be a milestone celebration with a trip down memory lane as we look back at the history of Vaulting in Australia.”

“Vaulting NSW invites all spectators to come and see our sport in action as we showcase the best of the best. It is interesting to see vaulters in action and our Open level vaulters perform some extraordinary feats of gymnastic ability combined with artistic choreography and the wonderful co-operation of the heroes of the sport, our horses.”

Visitors are welcome to stop by the Secretary’s desk on the concourse where a Vaulting NSW club member will be happy to share the details and the exhilaration of Vaulting, a sport that is enjoyed by school children in team sport throughout the world.

Catch National Vaulting Championships - 25th Anniversary Vaulting in action at Sydney International Equestrian Centre from 5-8 October, 2023.

Article courtesy of Equestrian Australia