Tribunal Decided: David McKinnon is the 2024 Australian Grand Prix Champion

Dressage

Australia

After an almost two-year battle before the Australian National Sports Tribunal owner Viv Lipshut got her justice. The Tribunal ruled in her favour and declared David McKinnon on Estupendo the 2024 Australian Grand Prix Champion.

Lipshut, the owner of McKinnon's ride Estupendo, had to fight a fierce battle against Equestrian Australia (EA - the national equestrian federation) to prove that her rider rightfully won the Australian Championships held in Sydney on 17-20 October 2024.

The Dispute: Champion Calculation System was Illegally Changed

According to Lipshut the Championship format at entry, as published by EA, read that the Grand champion's title would be determined by the combination's best two scores : the grand prix and the second score either achieved in the Special or Freestyle.

The method of determining the 2024 Australian Grand Prix Champion, however, was changed at the last minute from a percentage average to a point system, announced by the show organizer in the show booklet. The change happened after the entries were closed.

Mary Hanna won the title even though McKinnon had a total percentage score average of 72.909% while Hanna had an average of 71.818%.

A Lengthy Trial

Lipshut lodged a complaint with Equestrian Australia but it was denied. EA chair Christie Freeman (at the time) and EA’s Integrity Department Paul Williams (at the time) rejected her complaint. Lipshut was told she missed the time window for her protest (within 30 minutes of the completion of the class) and she could not be heard because she was not the horse’s rider. Complaints could only be made “by human participants directly involved in or adversely affected."

State body Equestrian NSW endorsed Lipshut’s bid to have the scoring controversy heard by the National Sports Tribunal, the independent sports umpire established by the Australian government in 2020. However, Equestrian Australia first refused to refer the matter to the tribunal, which requires the agreement of both parties to accept such a case under the horse sport’s regulations.

Heard At Last

In the autumn of 2025 major mainstream newspaper Sydney Morning Herald ran an article about her fight titled "Scoring Feud, Intimidation Claim Engulfs Olympics' most expensive sport" while Australian equestrian press did not even report on the on-going issue.

On Friday 17 October 2025 the National Sport Tribunal announced it has accepted her complaint through Equestrian NSW’s referral.

The Verdict: McKinnon and Lipshut Win

On 29 June 2026 the National Sports Tribunal finally cast its verdict and decided that the points-based scoring system used to decide the Australian Grand Prix Champion at the 2024 Australian Dressage Championships didn’t follow Rule 10.10(e) of the Equestrian Australia Dressage Rules and the Australian Dressage Championship Event Rules 2024.

The tribunal found that the show director, Toni Venhaus, changed how Rule 10.10(e) worked in the Australian Dressage Championships Program after entries had closed. Ms Venhaus admitted that "the ADC Program was updated to reflect this, but riders were not directly notified of the change." The tribunal mentioned that "there is no evidence that she can point to in which the re-wording of the rule was brought to anyone’s attention."

The Tribunal found that competitors were entitled to rely on the rules as they were published when they entered the competition. It held that changing the method of determining the Champion after entries had closed was procedurally unfair and that the Program could not override the applicable rules.

The Tribunal concluded that David McKinnon achieved the highest combined percentage score and determined that he should have won the Australian Grand Prix Champion title.

Chapter Closed, Justice Served

For Lipshut this has been the justice she sought from the start.

"I believed competitors have the right to rely on the rules as they are published. The Tribunal’s determination confirms that those rules cannot be changed after entries have closed," Lipshut told Eurodressage

"This was never just about winning a championship. It was about standing up for fairness, accountability, and the integrity of our sport. Equestrian Australia needs to listen to its members. My concerns should have been addressed when I first raised them, not after a 21-month struggle to obtain a hearing before the National Sports Tribunal. I could not stand by and allow an injustice like this to go unchallenged. If the rules can be ignored in one case, they can be ignored in any case. Every member deserves to know that the rules will be applied fairly and consistently, regardless of who is involved."

Lipshut admitted that this legal battle has taken every joy out of ever owning and sponsoring a high performance horse for competition in Australia again. "What a waste of time and money," she said. "It is closing a big chapter, I’m not sure I will continue with horses…not as an owner at least. I can now move on with my life."

She added, "Equestrian Australia must never ignore what it knows is right simply because those in positions of authority choose not to listen. Instead of celebrating and supporting one of Australia’s most successful Grand Prix partnerships, this dispute ultimately saw it come to an end. Our sport should nurture and protect combinations like Estupendo and David McKinnon by ensuring that the rules are applied fairly and consistently from the outset."

McKinnon and Estupendo last competed at the Pacific League Finals in Werribee in December 2024. The horse never made a come back to international sport after sustaining an injury.

Viv does have deep gratitude for those who stood by her side. "In contrast to Equestrian Australia’s handling of my concerns, I would like to acknowledge and thank Vireena Peacock, the Equestrian NSW Board, and Jeff Oliver and Dressage New South Wales. Their integrity ensured this matter reached the National Sports Tribunal, where it was heard independently and determined according to the rules."

Statement Equestrian Australia

Following the ruling Equestrian Australia issued a statement on 24 June 2026 acknowledging the determination handed down by the National Sports Tribunal.

Although there was no personal apology directed at Lipshut, EA stated, "we recognise the disappointment and uncertainty this matter has caused for those directly involved and the broader dressage community."

EA added, "EA now considers this matter closed. However, we will continue to work closely with all relevant parties as the Tribunal's findings are implemented. We recognise that this has been a challenging process for those involved and sincerely thank all parties for their patience, professionalism and constructive engagement throughout."

EA further stated that, "In response to the Tribunal's findings, the EA Board has commenced a review of the relevant National Dressage Rules, associated policies and event approval processes. The review will remove ambiguity in how placings and championship titles are determined, ensure event documentation is consistent with the national rules, and strengthen how and when rule clarifications are communicated to competitors. These measures are being taken to help prevent a situation of this nature occurring again."

Statement Dressage NSW

Dressage NSW took to Facebook.

"We extend our sincere congratulations to Viv Lipshut, David McKinnon and Estupendo on being recognised as the 2024 Australian Grand Prix Champion. This is a significant achievement and one that deserves to be celebrated."

"Equestrian NSW and Dressage NSW also acknowledge and congratulate Mary Hanna, together with the other highly placed riders, owners and horses whose performances reflected the exceptional standard of Australian dressage. We thank them for the professionalism and sportsmanship they have demonstrated throughout this process, which reflects the very best values of our sport."