Kiwi eventers going all-out for top Aachen finish
New Zealand is going all out for a top eventing complete at the Aachen World Equestrian Festival inward Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany this week, at the most of import eventing squad number inward a non-championship year.
World number 1 Andrew Nicholson spearheads a rigid squad to accept on nine other nations. The invitation-only number encompasses dressage, showjumping, driving together with vaulting every bit good every bit eventing, which is the solely plain of report New Zealand volition compete in.
Joining Nicholson is Badminton winner Jonathan Paget, his London Olympic team-mate Jonelle Richards together with 2010 basis entitle squad bronze medal winner Clarke Johnstone. Megan Heath volition ride every bit an individual.
Equestrian Sports New Zealand high functioning managing director Sarah Harris says the number is used every bit a exam run for World Championships together with Olympic Games campaigns.
“This is the major annual squad contest nosotros target, together with 1 where nosotros utilisation the same structure, routines together with squad civilisation nosotros would practise at those pinnacle events,” Harris said. “While these riders may non necessarily live the ones who brand the 2014 World Equestrian Championships inward France, they are all members of our high functioning squad.”
And spell Heath, a newcomer to the high functioning squad, is non riding every bit a team-member, Harris says it is a corking chance for her to sense the squad environment.
The best 3 scores from the iv squad riders volition count.
“While Aachen is a three-star event, it is ever challenging together with is a major travel of our drive to proceed Team New Zealand on the podium.”
Missing from the line-up are Olympic riders Caroline Powell together with Sir Mark Todd whose horses were unavailable for selection, having competed at other events.
The Kiwis volition compete against riders from Australia, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, the U.S. of A. together with Sweden inward the number which has attracted 42 combinations together with likewise forms travel of the annual eventing Nations Cup series.
The starting fourth dimension Equus caballus inspection was on Th afternoon, followed past times the dressage together with showjumping on Fri together with cross province on Saturday. The cross-country comprises upwardly to 35 obstacles together with runs simply nether 4km long.
Nicholson volition ride his recent Kentucky winner Quimbo (owned past times Deborah Sellar), Paget is on Clifton Lush (owned past times Frances Stead together with Lucy Allison), Richards on The Deputy (owned past times Lucy Sangster together with Mr together with Mrs T Morice), Johnstone on Incognito (owned past times Jean, Rob together with Clarke Johnstone) together with Heath on her ain St Daniel.
“We are riding a high at the moment,” says Harris. “Aachen is a telephone substitution travel of our bigger painting present to dominate every bit a squad at the 2014World Championships inward Normandy.”
The winning eventing squad at Aachen volition steal €16,000, amongst the top private heading habitation amongst €31,000.
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