Australia’s show jumping spotlight turns to Tamworth this week, as the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) welcomes the next leg of the FEI Jumping World Cup series and the second leg of the Trans-Tasman Test Series.
You can watch the action on Equestrian Life’s Live TV page, as well as via ClipMyHorse.TV.
The World Cup Qualifier CSI1*-W will attract some of the best riders from Australia and New Zealand, as combinations chase crucial points on the road to the prestigious FEI World Cup Final – which in 2026 will be held in Fort Worth, Texas.
With Tamworth being the fifth out of nine qualifiers, the leaderboard is tightly contested: Gemma Creighton leads on 49 points, followed by Jamie Winning-Kermond (43), Phillip Lever (42), Billy Raymont (38), and Mattea Davidson (29). Every round matters, and Tamworth is set to shake up the standings.
At the most recent leg of the series in Sydney, Sam Overton and his long-time partner Oaks Cassanova (fondly known as Ed) delivered a brilliant performance to claim the Waratah World Cup.
The AELEC Tamworth World Cup Event Director Martin Gostelow praised both horse and rider, noting not only the victory – but also the significance of the combination’s journey.
“Ed is 17 years young now, and Sam rode a beautiful round [in the Waratah CSI1*-W) – he never says die,” observes Martin. “Ed won the league a couple of years back and went overseas to the Final [Omaha, 2023], so there’s real depth of experience there. Ed is remarkable for his size; he jumped his own height to secure the win!
“Talking to Sam, he raved about the value of riding – for himself and his horses – on this competitive World Cup circuit. He’s got a couple of World Cup horses now, Ed being one. And that wonderful win last week… he’ll be coming to Tamworth full of confidence.”
The top-ranked rider at the end of the season will again gain the right to represent Australia at the 2026 FEI Jumping World Cup Final – where combinations compete in an electric indoor atmosphere.
“The indoor relevance [of World Cup competitions such as Waratah and Tamworth] is significant. AELEC gives combinations a chance to prepare for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Texas next year, which will also be running on an indoor venue,” explains Martin.
With the FEI Jumping World Championships at Aachen next year, the back-to-back competitions also give combinations the chance gain experience at international-level competitions on a range of courses, secure MERs, and showcase their abilities to selectors.
Trans Tasman Test Series heats up
Adding to the excitement, Tamworth will also play host to the second leg of the 2025 Trans-Tasman Test Series, with Senior (28 August) and Young Rider (29 August) teams from both nations going head-to-head. For Australia, it’s a key development pathway – giving riders invaluable experience under team pressure, in the style of Nations Cup and championship competition.
“The teams from one event to another do not have to remain the same, which I feel in itself is exciting.” Martin shares, “so the potential is there to blood any number of young athletes coming through from a young rider position and for selectors to put their best foot forward as to which they believe are the best seniors.”
In the last leg at Waratah, the senior Australian team won over New Zealand – but the New Zealand young riders beat the Australian young riders. To see the teams for Tamworth World Cup, click here.
The Trans-Tasman Test Series has come about thanks to the collaboration between these events, EA High Performance Manager Will Enzinger, and EA High Performance Jumping Manager Coco Miles, as well as New Zealand’s High Performance team – including Warrick Allan, Jock Paget and travelling Chef d’Equipe, Jaime Campbell-Ward.
Significantly, travelling riders can now bring their own horses. This allows for more challenging courses, raising the difficulty and technicality for an even more thrilling competition.
“It was previously always done on borrowed horses, but now with riders bringing their own horses, the technicality can go up a couple of holes. It becomes a proper, proper test,” Martin enthuses.
Crowds can expect thrilling sport across four days, with a star-studded lineup that includes not only Sam Overton and Oaks Cassanova, but also the current FEI Jumping World Cup Australian League ranked number one combination Gemma Creighton and Dada Des Brimbelles Z, and the 2024 League winner Billy Raymont riding Tulara Dakchiko and Caprino – who both helped him secure the League win last year.
From seasoned campaigners to the next wave of talent, Tamworth promises world-class competition and a true showcase of show jumping. For those who cannot attend in person, the action will be streamed live via ClipMyHorse.TV.
