The team will enter the titles having posted its best results for the year at a ribbon competition at Sunbury’s Sugargum Farm last weekend.

Coach Sharyn van Someren said she was rapt with the efforts of the vaulters, most of whom were still honing their developing skills.

The sport combines gymnastics with equestrian. Competitors are asked to perform routines on horseback or stationary barrels.

Ella Cameron, the youngest team member, placed first in her barrel section and second in the horse section.

Kyra Blake was fourth in her barrel section and third in her horse section.

Ella and Kyra also teamed in the pairs section, placing third in barrel and fourth in horse.

Sisters Pippa and Mollie Buckley also impressed. Pippa placed in the barrel and horse disciplines, while Mollie won barrel and was second in horse.

Birgit Krossman, the most experienced team member, won both her individual events, as well as the pairs horse class with Lisa van Someren.

Lisa was similarly successful, taking out the her barrel section and earning second in the horse section. The results were achieved aboard nine-year-old Percheron-cross Prince. His docile nature makes him ideal to compete aboard.

Sharyn van Someren said the VSVT had taken a major step forward from a similar competition in May.

“Some of the other people who were at this competition were quite surprised with how far the girls had come since the last time they’d seen them,” she said.

“There would’ve been 400 individual move marks in the morning session and there were six perfect scores given. Five were to members of our team.

“They’re so much stronger than what they were in the last competition, physically stronger and more co-ordinated.

“And that comes from practising four nights a week coming up to nationals.”

Van Someren said the team would compete in Adelaide this weekend before returning to the South Australian capital for nationals from October 3 to 6.

“The event this weekend will give them another good round of experience and give them a better idea of where they’ll sit on the national level,” she said.

“It’d be nice for them to place on a national level.”