Maurice Beatson and Brooke Edgecombe may be barely on US soil but both have been named alongside Sharn Wordley and Kim Bird in the New Zealand team for the $150,000 FEI CSIO4* Nations Cup.
The event, part of the Wellington Equestrian Festival in Florida, running from February 27-March 3, has attracted entries from 11 countries, including the Kiwis.
ESNZ high performance general manager Jock Paget says it is a great opportunity for the Kiwi combinations to compete at such a high-ranking event. “It is great for us to test American shows like this,” he says. “It is not something we have done a lot of. It is a good test of the process of horses going from New Zealand and meeting up with US-based Kiwis and ride as a team.”
He wished them all the best. “I hope it is a successful show for our team and in particular, a good prep for those chasing that individual spot for the Paris Olympic Games.”
Sharn Wordley has been named aboard Champion League, Brooke Edgecombe on LT Holst Andrea, Maurice Beatson with Central Park, and Kim Bird on Cera Cassina. Craig Martin is the chef d’equipe.
ESNZ jumping high performance manager Oliver Edgecombe is also looking forward to the Nations Cup and reiterates Jock’s words about just how great an opportunity it is for New Zealand riders, and particularly those who had recently travelled to the States.
“The horses have all seemed to have travelled well so it will be great to see them in the arena in Wellington.”
The $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4* Grand Prix is on Saturday (Sunday morning NZ time) with other classes getting underway from Wednesday.
WHEN: March 2 @ 4.30pm (US time), March 3 @ 10.30am (NZ time)
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By Diana Dobson -HP Media Liaison