Amanda Pottinger and Good Timing were one of just seven combinations to come home clear and inside time in the cross country at the Pratoni test event which is also the opening round of the FEI Nations Cup Series. The leaderboard in Italy has been given a decent shake up, with Robin Godel (SWI) and Grandeur de Lully CH the new leaders on 26 penalty points.

Tim Price and Falco are the best of the Kiwis in seventh place on 31.8 after adding time penalties due to taking an option at the top of the course. “I thought I may have been able to make it up but ultimately it is just about a nice tidy round . . . I did want to be a bit quicker,” said Tim. “I am super happy with him. He tried really hard for me through a very rapid course. It is fast and furious out there.”

The team were gaining a lot of knowledge about the venue which will host the World Championships in September. “It is fun to be part of a venue that is gearing up for something bigger and better, so that is quite fun to be part of,” says Tim.

Amanda scooted up the leaderboard from 48th to 16th on 35. “I am rapt,” she said. “To be clear and under time in his first 4* is way above the expectations. It wasn’t perfect but he really stepped up today and got better and better as the course went on.”

Jesse Campbell and Diachello added only time to finished the day on 48.9 and move from 62nd to 36th, with Jonelle Price and Faerie Magnifico adding both jump and time to their tally. There were four eliminations on course, and eight retirements.

In the Nations Cup competition, New Zealand has retained its fourth position, and sits on 115.7. France has snaffled the lead from Germany with their super impressive 87.1 tally, just a smidgen ahead of Switzerland on 87.2 and Sweden closer to the Kiwis with their 113.6 penalty points. Germany slipped from first to last with one rider eliminated and the other opting to retire.

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THE HORSE DETAILS:
Falco – owned by Sue Benson and Tim Price
Faerie Magnifico – owned by Trisha Rickards
Good Timing – owned by The Volunteer Syndicate
Diachello – owned by Kent Gardner and Jesse Campbell

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ