Three new riders have made it onto ESNZ’s Eventing Performance Squads announced today.
Jess Woods (Waikato) joins Ashleigh McKinstry (Taumarunui), Maddy Crowe (Hamilton), Abigail Long (Levin) and Renee Faulkner (Papakura) on the Talent Development Squad.
New to the Talent Identification Squad are Sam Mynott (Hamilton) and Abbey Thompson (Te Kauwhata) who join Beth Wilson (Papakura), Brodie Roberts (Canterbury), Greer Caddigan (Hamilton) and Vicky Browne-Cole (Waiuku).
2018 was a good year for all the squad riders. Jess and Just de Manzana placed 10th in the Adelaide CCI4*and third in the National Three Day Event CCI3* championship, with Renee and Rubinstar HH 11th at Adelaide in what all said was a hugely challenging event. Maddy and Waitangi Pinterest placed second in the CCI3* at Puhinui, while Beth Wilson and Alto et Audax made the top 10 in the CCI2* class and Vicky aboard Cutting Edge was eighth in the CCI1*. Beth was also fifth in the CCI2* championship at the National Three Day Event Championships.
Sam notched a big win with her victory in the CCI1* championship at the National Three Day Championships on CHS Ripleys Dream, with Vicky and Zip It Up in fifth.
The Talent Development Squad features young eventing riders who have shown their commitment to be a performance-driven athlete. Selectors looked for those showing an array of skills and attributes, and particularly those developing multiple horses with proven form and the capability of winning at CCI3*-L and stepping up to 4* (new formats).
The New Zealand based programme aims to develop the skills and capability of those riders to produce competitive 4* horses, looking to 5* (new formats), and solid performances in international fields.
ESNZ received a large number of applications for the Talent ID Squad which aims to identify younger talented eventers who are also showing commitment to competitive performances with ongoing improvement. Riders needed to be showing consistent form at 1* (old format), but have the capability of winning at CIC2*-L level and stepping up to 3* (new formats).
This programme is also based onshore and aims to introduce its riders to new skills and influences, providing them the opportunity to show their commitment as a sportsperson to seriously pursuing eventing.
Talent ID riders have at least two performance camps a year and access to the High Performance Sport New Zealand Pathway to Podium Programme which provides opportunities to grow themselves as an athlete.
THE SQUADS
Talent Development: Ashleigh McKinstry (Taumarunui), Maddy Crowe (Hamilton), Abigail Long (Levin), Renee Faulkner (Papakura) and Jessica Woods (Waikato).
Talent ID: Abbey Thompson (Te Kauwhata), Beth Wilson (Papakura), Brodie Roberts (Canterbury), Greer Caddigan (Hamilton), Vicky Browne-Cole (Waiuku) and Sam Mynott (Hamilton).
Click here for the full criteria for the squads and Performance Pathway.
By Diana Dobson – ESNZ HP Media Liaison
January 8, 2019