The 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games will very much be front of mind for the five Olympians named in the ESNZ High Performance Eventing Squad.
Britain-based riders Blyth Tait, Tim and Jonelle Price and Sir Mark Todd, along with Matangi domiciled Clarke Johnstone remain on New Zealand’s top squad.
Tim Price has three horses in Ringwood Sky Boy, Bango and Xavier Faer. 14-year-old Ringwood Sky Boy was his Rio Olympic Games horse, and since then has placed fourth and fifth at Burghley. Eleven-year-old Bango, who has competed at both Burghley and Kentucky, is also on squad. His third horse is Xavier Faer who was third at Badminton this year and also has 4* experience at both Pau and Burghley.
Jonelle Price has been named aboard the 14-year-old mare Classic Moet who was New Zealand’s best at the 2014 WEG with a fourth place and has three top 10 finishes at CCI4* level to her credit. She is also on squad with her Rio Olympic horse, the 12-year-old mare Faerie Dianimo who has three top 10 CCI4* finishes, including a second at Luhmuhlen.
Todd has his 2012 London Olympic Games team bronze medal-winner, 15-year-old NZB Campino who is hugely consistent at CCI4* level. He has also been named with 13-year-old Leonidas II, on whom he finished seventh at the Rio Olympic Games.
Johnstone and 13-year-old Balmoral Sensation were New Zealand’s best at the Rio Olympics with their sixth place finish. The combination recently won the CCI4* at Adelaide and were last year fifth at Badminton.
Rio reserve Tait is in with 12-year-old Bear Necessity V who has completed Burghley, Badminton and Pau.
Eventing high performance manager Graeme Thom says the squads continue to show a strong base of combinations . . . and that pleases him in the countdown to 2018 WEG.
“It is extremely encouraging that many names of New Zealand-based riders have been added (across the squads), which portends for continued strength and success in the upcoming years.” He thanked the selectors for their “diligence and efforts”.
High Performance Squad
|
Rider |
Horse |
Owners |
|
Blyth Tait |
Bear Necessity V |
Ronnie Bartlett and Blyth Tait |
|
Clarke Johnstone |
Balmoral Sensation |
Johnstone Family |
|
Jonelle Price |
Classic Moet |
Trisha Rickards and Jonelle Price |
|
Jonelle Price |
Faerie Dianimo |
Trisha Rickards, Jacky Green and Jonelle Price |
|
Sir Mark Todd |
NZB Campino |
New Zealand Bloodstock and Sir Mark Todd |
|
Sir Mark Todd |
Leonidas II |
Diane Brunsden, Peter Cattell and Sir Mark Todd |
|
Tim Price |
Ringwood Sky Boy |
Robert Taylor, Varenna Allen, Tim Price and selwood.com |
|
Tim Price |
Bango |
Numero Uno Syndicate |
|
Tim Price |
Xavier Faer |
Trisha Rickards, Nigella Hall and Tim Price |
High Performance Futures Squad
|
Rider |
Horse |
Owners |
|
Dan Jocelyn |
Dassett Coo Touch |
Therese Miller and Dan Jocelyn |
|
Dan Jocelyn |
Grovine de Reve |
Therese Miller, Jo Preston-Hunt, Philip Hunt and Dan Jocelyn |
|
Caroline Powell |
Spice Sensation |
Claire and Michael Hunter and Caroline Powell |
|
Jesse Campbell |
Amsterdam 21 |
Gary and Linda Harding |
|
Jonathan Paget |
Angus Blue |
Joe and Alexander Giannamore |
|
Jonelle Price |
Cloud Dancer |
The Marley and Me Syndicate |
|
Jonelle Price |
Cekatinka |
Joanne Pullan |
|
Jonelle Price |
Ascona M |
Suzanne Houchin, Lucy and Ben Sangster and Sir Peter Vela |
|
Sir Mark Tood |
Kiltubrid Rhapsody |
Dr Elizabeth Donald & Niki Ryan |
|
Sir Mark Todd |
McClaren |
David and Katherine Thomson |
Future Potential Recognition Squad
Amanda Pottinger (Havelock North)
Bundy Philpott (Cambridge)
Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata)
Emily Cammock (Christchurch)
Ginny Thompson (Kaukapakapa)
James Avery (UK)
Joe Meyer (USA)
Lucy Jackson (UK)
Lizzie Green (Hamilton)
Neil Spratt (UK)
Samantha Felton (Hamilton)
Talent Development
Abby Lawrence (Te Puke)
Abigail Long (Levin)
Andy Daines (Kumeu)
Ashleigh McKinstry (Owhango)
Maddy Crowe (Hamilton)
Renee Faulkner (Papakura)
Talent ID Squad
Beth Wilson (Papakura)
Brodie Roberts (Canterbury)
Greer Caddigan (Hamilton)
Kate Herdson (Auckland)
Lucy Turner (Christchurch)
Sophie Alexander (Auckland)
Vicky Browne-Cole (Waiuku)
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison