New Zealand jumpers head to The Netherlands next month, chasing a team qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Bruce Goodin, Daniel Meech, Richard Gardner, Samantha McIntosh and Tom Tarver have been named as the squad from whom the team of four will be named. Bruce, Daniel, Richard and Samantha were the superstar team to create history last year when they won the Nations’ Cup class in Abu Dhabi.
Bruce has been named aboard his 2018 World Equestrian Games horse Backatorps Danny, an 11-year-old Dutch-bred gelding by Quasimodo Z, out of Zepper (by Lupicor).
Daniel is aboard his WEG horse too, the 11-year-old Swedish-bred mare Fine who is by Corlensky G, out of Cicilia (by Ciceron).
Richard will compete aboard the 11-year-old Calisto 5, a German-bred gelding by Colman, out of Tiffany I (by Quintero).
Samantha and her 16-year-old bay stallion Check In 2 were the cool and calm head to bring home the victory in Abu Dhabi and also represented New Zealand at WEG last year. The German-bred horse is by Bockmann’s Cordalme Z, out of Ilonka (by Lord Pezi).
Tom and his nine-year-old grey New Zealand-bred warmblood Popeye only made the move to Europe mid-year.
Helena Stormanns is the chef d’equipe and trainer, as she was at WEG in Tryon.
All five combinations will present at the horse inspection at Valkenswaard on Monday (August 12) afternoon before going on to ride in the official training session, after which the team of four will be named to compete in the qualifier the following day.
New Zealand need to finish first or second to qualify for the FEI Group G Olympic slot.
WHAT: FEI Group G Olympic Qualifier
WHERE: Valkenswaard, The Netherlands
WHEN: August 12-13, 2019
The horse details:
Backatorps Danny V – owned by Backatorp Ryder AB
Fine – owned by the NZ Fine Group
Check In 2 – owned by Takapoto Equestrian
Calisto 5 – owned by GestGestut Jennissen, Gut Nechen Agrar GmbH
Popeye – owned by Tom Tarver and Lucia Voss
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison