There’s plenty of pressure on the four showjumpers named to compete in The Netherlands tonight in the only chance New Zealand has to qualify a team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Samantha McIntosh aboard Check In 2, Daniel Meech on Fine, Bruce Goodin with Backatorps Danny V and Tom Tarver on Popeye have been named as the starting line-up with Richard Gardner aboard Calisto 5 the reserve.

There are six teams in the Group G Olympic qualifier – the Philippines, the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong and New Zealand – which is expected to finish around 1am (NZ time) at the Topps International Arena in Valkenswaard. The 1.50m-1.60m class is not being livestreamed.

To qualify New Zealand needs to finish in the top two teams.

CLICK HERE FOR THE START ORDER

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

Words by Diana Dobson
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ