New South Wales dominated at the Australian Nationals 2008 as they picked up six grade wins and featured in every one of the nine finals. The only state to defeat them was Western Australia, who had the advantage of being on home ground, as the Nationals took place at the state equestrian centre in Brigadoon. The Australia Nationals take place every two years and last six days; their location is rotated to a different state every time.

Western Australia picked up three grade wins, taking the Men’s Under 21’s, the Senior Mixed and the Senior Women’s titles from NSW; all were hard fought finals and the two senior titles were only won by two goals each.

The week, however, belonged to New South Wales as they won the Masters over 50 division, the Masters Mixed division, the Junior Open division, the Junior mixed division, the Women under 24 division and the Senior Men division. (Editors note: we know a “woman’s under 24 division” sounds rather strange but that is what all the Australian websites are reporting it as! If it should be under 21’s can someone please let us know!)

NSW took both Masters divisions and the Woman’s under 24 against Western Australia, the junior open and senior men’s division against Queensland and the junior mixed division against Victoria. All were reasonably close, with the biggest winning margin being the senior men’s final, where NSW ran out winners by nine goals with the scoreline at 30 to 21. Todd Weston (who won best number 1 at the UK Nationals in 2007 while representing Kent Target) picked up best number 1 for NSW. His team mate, Greg Davidge, who represented Australia at the 2003 world cup, picked up overall best horse for the Nationals with “Future Son”. He then indicated that both himself and Future Son, who was 16 this year, might be retiring after this win.

Other names which were among the prizes and might be familiar to UK fans are Doug Webb and Justin Fleay. Doug Webb, who is the father of UK player Jason Webb, picked up best number 1 in the masters men for NSW and his horse, Silver Hill Shake, picked up best horse in that division. Justin Fleay, who was last seen in the UK playing in the blue of Pennine in 2002, picked up best number 2 for the Open mixed for WA.

Full Finals Results

Masters Over 50
New South Wales 22 defeated Western Australia 18

Masters Mixed
New South Wales 19 defeated Western Australia 13

Junior Open
New South Wales 33 defeated Queensland 16

Junior Mixed
New South Wales 21 defeated Victoria 10

Men Under 21
Western Australia 27 defeated New South Wales 16

Women Under 24
New South Wales 23 defeated Western Australia 20

Senior Mixed
Western Australia 21 defeated New South Wales 19

Senior Women
Western Australia 26 defeated New South Wales 24

Senior Men
New South Wales 30 defeated Queensland 21

PLAYER AWARDS –
Masters Mixed
Best No 1 – Pearl Marriott WA
Best No 2 – Phil Hvirf NSW
Best No 3 – Ross Turnbull NSW

Masters Men
Best No 1 – Doug Webb NSW
Best No 2 – John Scifleet NSW
Best No 3 – Phil Day WA
Champion Masters Horse – John Scifleet “Barnett Stargun”

Junior Open
Best No 1 – Jim Grills NSW
Best No 2 – Mitchell Whiteley NSW
Best No 3 – Lucy Grills NSW

Junior Mixed
Best No 1 – Matt Adams WA
Best No 2 – Tyler Mortimer NSW
Best No 3 – John Bronson VIC

Champion Junior Horse – Lucy Grills – Beragoon Rovers”

Under 21 Men
Best No 1 – Jarrod Martin WA
Best No 2 – Chris Dunlop WA
Best No 3 – Tim Broadfoot WA

Under 24 Women
Best No 1 – April Leggett NSW
Best No 2 – Amy Smith WA
Best No 3 – Skye Bradford NSW
Champion Intermediate Horse – Tim Broadfoot WA – “Edenhope Elfin”

Open Mixed
Best No 1 – Lyric Anderson NSW
Best No 2 – Justin Fleay WA
Best No 3 – Wayne Woods WA

Open Women
Best No 1 – Kylie Dowling WA
Best No 2 – Julie Sutton VIC
Best No 3 – Trish Jones WA
Champion Womens’ Horse – Kylie Dowling – “Kebaringup Lisa”

Open Men
Best No 1 – Todd Weston NSW
Best No 2 – Cameron Shepherd QLD
Best No 3 – Chris Anderson NSW
Champion Men’s Horse Greg Davidge – “Future Son”

OVERALL CHAMPIONS HORSE Greg Davidge NSW – “Future Son”

CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE – Sally Thompson NSW “Docs McCreedy”

CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE –
MIXED MASTERS – Pearl Marriott WA “Eastlin Tucker”

CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE –
MASTERS MEN – Doug Webb NSW – “Silver Hill Shake”

CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE –
JUNIOR MIXED – Ben Adams WA – “Baldwin”

CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE –
JUNIOR OPEN – Jim Grills NSW – Beragoon Lady”

CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE –
UNDER 24 WOMEN – Skye Bradford NSW – “Numblamunjic Belinda”

CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE –
UNDER 21 MEN – Tim Broadfoot WA – “Edenhope Elfin”

CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE –
OPEN MIXED – Lyric Anderson NSW “Main Camp Amanda ”

CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE –
WOMEN – Kylie Dowling WA – “Kebaringup Lisa”

CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE –
MEN – Greg Davidge NSW – “Future Son”

MAX WALTERS TROPHY – BEST HORSE OF THE NATIONALS – Greg Davidge NSW “Future Son”