JAMIE Kermond is a man of principle.
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The Woolsthorpe showjumping export has grand ambitions to reshape the way national equestrian selectors view the Australian scene.
Kermond, who on Saturday finished first at the Australian Showjumping Championships at Werribee, is set to remain in Australia in the lead up to the 2018 World Equestrian Games after a three-year stint in Europe.
His step-father, who still resides in Woolsthorpe, said New South Wales-based Kermond wanted to prove to selectors that talent competing outside of Europe was still strong enough to represent Australia.
He said Kermond was vying for a place at the World Equestrian Games.
“The World Equestrian Games coincide with the Commonwealth Games in 2018, but their location is yet to be announced after Canada pulled out,” step father Shayne Fisher said.
“He and his fiance (Jamie Winning) are aiming to be selected for the games without competing in Europe. They have brought their two best horses back and are getting ready for their ‘Showcase of Showjumping’ event in Australia.
“It’s one of the toughest in Australia and is aiming to raise the standards of it here to match those in Europe.
“It’s fantastic. It’s as close to Europe as there is. But that’s their aim, to qualify for the World Equestrian Championships from here and to successfully host their showcase.”
Kermond’s Werribee victory, which cemented his status as one of Australia’s premier showjumpers, was aboard gelding Yandoo Oaks Constellations.
He cleared fences of 1.60m – the highest in the competitive showjumping world – to take the crown.
Fisher hailed the performance of Yandoo Oaks Constellations.
“The horse he had was an emergency for the Olympics,” he said.
“He’s only been back in Australia from Germany for three weeks in quarantine. The flight is more than 24 hours because there a stop. He is a world-class horse.
“It was Jamie’s first competition in two months and ironically, the Australian Showjumping Championships were the event he won before he went to Europe three years ago.”
He said while the Australian circuit was behind the Europe in terms of quality, it was improving.
“It’s the best of the best in Australia and even thought it is a step back in class, this country has some good horses and riders,” Fisher said.
“If you have a field of 50 in Australia, there will be five, six or seven chances in that field. But in Europe, all 50 of those will be a chance.”
Kermond’s ‘Showcase of Showjumping’ event is from September 12-16 in Richmond, New South Wales.