World leaders in the sport of Virtus Equestrian, Australia has just named a team to contest the inaugural Virtus Open European Equestrian Championships. An exciting team of eight riders will travel to the UK in July from all corners of our country, hoping to build on the success of our gold medal performance at the Virtus Global Games last year.
In 2023, the Australian equestrian community cheered on the Australian team at the Virtus Global Games. It was the first year equestrian was included as a live event and Australia stamped itself as a leader in the sport with a haul of three gold medals and one silver.
That trailblazing team was made up of Suit Watts, Andrew Driffield and Sarah Sherwood, as well as chef d’equipe Jenny Carroll, head coach Mary Longden, assistant coach Sally Francis and athlete support Rachael Frechette. Their success at the Games in Vichy, France, was made possible thanks to a monumental fundraising effort spearheaded by Heath Ryan and Mary Nitschke of Ryans Horses, which was enthusiastically backed by the Australian equestrian community.
This year, Virtus Sport has introduced regional equestrian competitions to the mix, with the Virtus Open European Equestrian Championships scheduled for 15-19 July in the United Kingdom. “Following on from the first live international event for Virtus Equestrian athletes at the Virtus Global Games in France, Virtus is introducing regional equestrian competitions and, hopefully in 2025, a World Equestrian Championships,” explains Jenny Carroll. “Many of the other 13 Virtus sports hold regular national, regional and world competitions… now the full program is being introduced for equestrian athletes.”
Initially, the event at Sparsholt College near Winchester UK was for European competitors only, but the invitation was recently extended in mid-April to include other nations, including Australia. “Although this opportunity has been provided with not much notice, we had tremendous interest from athletes, and we are taking a team of up to eight athletes this time. The athletes are very excited to be representing Australia at another event and their families are very keen to support the Virtus International Equestrian Committee vision,” says Jenny. “It is extremely generous of the Virtus International Equestrian Committee, and Amanda Heath and her team in the UK, to offer us the opportunity to take so many athletes.”
Like the Australian team at last year’s Global Games, the eight athletes at the European Championships will all ride borrowed horses provided by the some very kind horse owners.
Australia is of course a world-leader in Virtus Equestrian. Not only did the Australian team dominate late year’s Global Games, but the flow-on effect here has resulted in the running of several live Virtus competitions – two held earlier this year at Willinga Park and Boneo Park CPEDIs, and another scheduled for the upcoming Hawkesbury Dressage Festival CPEDI (15-17 June). The international Virtus Equestrian committee is now looking to Australia in terms of how to run these events and to inform how the rules and types of tests used might change in the next championship cycle.
Previously, Virtus Equestrian has largely been run as video competitions since its inauguration in 2017. The video competitions are still held two or three times each year by Virtus Equestrian, with the Australian team winning the last event and Sarah Sherwood the current leading rider with Dicavalli Royal Guess.
“Another benefit from the exposure the equestrian team received from the Games last year was an increase in athlete classification. Most of the riders have been competing in open or Para Dressage for many years and they were excited to find that they were eligible for Virtus competition,” adds Jenny.
The team’s whirlwind trip to the UK for the European Championships will see family, carers and coaches travelling with the team, as well as many of the same support staff from the Global Games. “Mary Longden is head coach, Rachael Frechette will be head of athlete support, and I am the chef d’equipe,” explains Jenny. “However, we are looking forward to developing the international team support skills of a few more coaches and crew so that we will have a pool of people able to take on team management roles at future events.
“The team is coordinated by Sport Inclusion Australia (SIA), which is the National Sport Organisation for Virtus Sport. They are a tremendous advocate for athletes with intellectual impairment and have been so supportive of the introduction of live competition for equestrian athletes.”
Here are the eight riders who have been named on the Australian team for the Virtus Open European Equestrian Championships:
SUI WATTS
“My horses are my children;
I can trust them…
they are always there for me.”
Sui lives on Mitchells Island, NSW, and has been riding since an early age. “I sat on horses from two but got my own horse and started Pony Club at four with my brother and sister,” explains Sui. “My coach is Nell Marshman, and she has been coaching me for 16 years.”
Sui was part of the Australian team at last year’s Virtus Global Games in Vichy, where she became a dual gold medallist.
Sui’s current horse is Gem Park Guess (Diesel), who is very cheeky and loves his treats. “My horses are my children; I can trust them, and they listen to me when I’m happy, angry or sad, they are always there for me.”
Sui, who is sponsored by Boston Park Equine, is looked forward to the European Championships and is excited to ride new horses, make new friends and have fun doing what she loves best.
SARAH SHERWOOD
“I enjoy riding horses
because it is fun and
I learn so much…”
Based in Tallebudgera Valley on the Gold Coast, Sarah started riding at age four, and went to Pony Club and RDA. She was classified for Para Equestrian in 2012, and then joined Sport Inclusion and Virtus in 2018. Sarah is coached by Megan Hitch, who has trained her on and off for 20 years.
Sarah was part of last year’s Virtus Global Games team, bringing home team gold and individual silver medals.
“I have Janevelyn Tsunami (Nippa), who was my competition horse since 201; we had so much fun and success,” recalls Sarah of her previous horse. “He is now retired at home with his little friend Boo, a Shetland pony. My competition horse now is Dicavalli Royal Guess (Guess), and he has been with me since August 2023.”
“I enjoy riding horses because it is fun and I learn so much about [the horses] through riding, and I love being out with other horse riders,” says Sarah. She is looking forward to joining another team to represent Australia and make her country proud in Europe. “I will also enjoy meeting other riders from other countries!”
BEL DABIC
Hailing from Bunbury in Western Australia, Bel is a 16-year-old high school student with a passion for swimming and horse riding. Bel is no stranger to international competition; as a member of the Australian swimming team last year at the Virtus Global Games in France, she won gold, silver, and bronze medals.
With an adventurous spirit, she now embarks on a journey to the UK as a member of the Australian equestrian team! Riding since the age of five, horses have always held a special place in Bel’s heart; she owns Red, a 14-year-old ex-racehorse known for his unwavering loyalty and gentle nature.
“He loves jumping and cross country. He is trying really hard in the art of dressage – but he needs some more practice. Red is the love of my life!” says Bel, who is coached by Meg Midgely and Sharon Jarvis.
“Horses are so much fun to be around, and ride. I feel good around horses,” Bel enthuses. Heading to the European Championships, Bel says she’s excited to meet and ride different horses in a new place.
ANDREW DRIFFIELD
“I dream of an
Australian team once
again being on the podium.”
A member of the 2023 Virtus Global Games team and dual gold medal winner, Andrew is from Scone in NSW, the horse capital of Australia.
“I started riding when I was seven years old at Maitland Pony Club, 43 years ago, with Heath and Rozzie Ryan as my coaches,” Andrew explains. “I am competing on a Warmblood at the moment, Valerius Whisperen – Boxer to his friends, as he was born on Boxing Day. He was actually due the day before, and the owner’s daughter was so very excited, as she thought going out to the paddock and calling ‘Jesus’ would be really funny!
“Jess Somerfield is my coach, and she is on the Australian eventing squad, and also hoping to be selected to represent Australia – so she understands my desire to represent my country and compete overseas,” explains Andrew.
“I was fortunate to be a part of the gold medal-winning Australian Virtus team in France 2023 and was also an individual gold medallist. I dream of an Australian team once again being on the podium in England at the 2024 Virtus Open European Equestrian Championships.”
LUKE PURTILL
Luke is another WA rider and lives in Serpentine. He lays claim to riding before he was born, as his mother was in the saddle while pregnant with him!
Raised near Darwin, Luke Purtill’s journey in the world of equestrian sports is a testament to resilience, passion, and unwavering determination. Due to being born with 22q11.21 micro-deletion syndrome, Luke has had to overcome many obstacles in his path. He holds the conviction that we must focus on #Ability and that #DisIsJustAPrefix.
Luke’s ultimate dream is simple yet profound –to inspire everyone to be the best they can be, whatever they choose.
In November 2023, Luke relocated from the Northern Territory to WA in pursuit of his equestrian sport ambitions. Under the guidance of coaches Alfred Fitzi and Sharon Jarvis, Luke’s riding has flourished. “At the moment I often ride my coach Alfred’s horse, Orange Hill Bordeau; he is a bit goofy and would like to be a princess!” explains Luke. “My horse at home is called Mt Weld Resilience. We call him Mr Scruffy because he doesn’t like to be clean. He is definitely not a princess!”
Luke says horses are his life: “They make me feel calm and happy and are great company. I love them all.”
No stranger to international competition, Luke has also represented the Northern Territory in Ten Pin Bowling, Special Olympics and at RDA National Championships. He is now thrilled to have been selected to represent Australia at the 2024 Virtus Equestrian European Championships: “I love having horse adventures and meeting amazing horsey people, and I’m super proud to be riding for Australia.”
CHLOE KARSTEN
“They don’t
judge or treat
me differently.”
From Umina Beach on the Central Coast of NSW, Chloe has been an avid rider since she was six.
Now 16, her current horse is a palomino named Mister. “He’s like a big golden Labrador,” she explains. Chloe says what she loves most about being around horses is the feeling of connection she has to them. “They are loyal, kind… I can talk to them about anything, and they don’t judge or treat me differently.”
Coached by Karen and Charlie Waterman-Karingal, Chloe is busy training for her trip abroad and when asked what she’s most looking forward to, she says: “The opportunity to represent Australia with an amazing team in the sport I love.”
CATHERINE VINEY
“I enjoy being with horses
because they bring me joy…”
Catherine lives on a farm on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia and has been riding since she was eight years old. “I enjoy riding my horse, Lucy,” she says. “Lucy is a great horse to ride because she challenges me and can be stubborn at times, although I do enjoy her personality.”
“I have been riding at The Riding Patch with my coach, Kathy Angel, for eight years. She has taught me so much and makes riding fun. I enjoy being with horses because they bring me joy and they’re fun to be around.”
Catherine – who is sponsored by The Riding Patch, Racing SA and Top Range Feeds – is looking forward to competing at her first international competition at the European Championships in England: “I will learn a lot from the experience and hope to do well.”
PHOEBE ROCHE
Victorian Phoebe Roche started riding at a young age through RDA. “This started my love of horses,” says the 28-year-old. “I now have three beautiful horses; two that are retired, Comet, 24, and William, 20. Both are living the good life! My third horse is my competition horse, Smartie.”
“All three are completely different, but they have taught me patience, understanding and determination. They also know I have treats in my pockets, so I get snuffled as I walk them up, it’s very cute!”
“I’m looking forward to competing as a team with my fellow riders [in the UK], where I will be experiencing new places and meeting new people,” says Phoebe of her selection for the European Championships team. “To me, I love the feeling when I’m riding; I’m in charge of this big powerful horse and when all the stars line up, it’s as if I’m flying free.”
SUPPORT THE TEAM
The Virtus Open European Equestrian Championships will be a self-funded trip for the athletes. You can help support the costs of getting them, their coaches and carers to the event by making a tax-deductible donation via Sport Inclusion Australia.
Alternatively, you can donate via bank transfer:
Account Name: Sport Inclusion Australia Projects
BSB: 033 165
Account Number: 126139
List the “2024 Equestrian Team Open European Championships” as the project description.
