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NEGS Old Girl Julia Lynch (nee Julia Hargreaves – Class 2004) and her horse ‘Vedor’ represented Australia at the 2012 London Olympic Games. At 26, Julia was the youngest Australian show jumping competitor ever to compete at the Olympics. Julia placed 35th in the individual event and equal 10th in the team event. She also became the 4th Olympian NEGS Old Girl.
Born in Hong Kong, her riding career began at age 7 at the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. She spent part of her childhood in the United States before the family returned home to Australia when she was 11. Julia now lives in Europe with her husband, an Irish Olympian, Denis Lynch.
Her passion for horses saw her boarding at NEGS where she was a part of the NEGS Equestrian team and competed successfully in the inter-school events, showjumping, dressage and eventing. Julia loved her years at NEGS and particularly enjoyed the big inter-schools competition at Coonabarabran. She learned a lot from her instructor, Mrs. Robyn Cameron, about perseverance, riding skills and horse care.
In a 2012 interview for Hills & Hawkesbury Equestrian magazine, Julia said of NEGS “I learned a lot there and experienced every discipline”.
Always very committed to riding, Julia was determined to make it her career. She had regular training and worked hard at improving her skills. She trained and competed successfully in Prix St George dressage, but was always sure that it was show jumping she wanted to commit to.
Julia began competing at the World Cup level in 2008 and trained with Vicki Roycroft and then George Sanna. At the age of 25, she impressed in the opening round of the 2011-12 FEI World Cup season where she won the event on Vedro at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, the event was an Olympic qualifier.
In May 2011, Julia moved to the Netherlands in order to train with fellow Olympian Edwina Tops-Alexander.
In 2012, Julia was selected, with her horse Vedor, to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics in her first Games, to participate in the equestrian team jumping and individual jumping events.
NEGS is proud of you, Julia Hargreaves Lynch!
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