Things didn’t quite go the way of the Kiwis in the $150,000 FEI CSIO4* Nations Cup in Florida this morning, but there is plenty to take away from the event.
New Zealand was one of two teams not to progress to the second round of the 1.55m class. Sharn Wordley and Champion League were first out and picked up 16 faults. Brooke Edgecombe and LT Holst Andrea were eliminated after two uncharacteristic refusals. Maurice Beatson – the oldest in the field – and Central Park had 20 jump and two time penalties, with Kim Bird retiring Cera Cassina after an early rail. The team failed to post a best of three score.
ESNZ high performance general manager Jock Paget said while it was a disappointing result it had been a great opportunity for the riders to compete in a big class, ride as a team against some of the world’s best and will no doubt give them a good perspective of where they are at and what they need to do to close the gap.
Jumping high performance manager Oliver Edgecombe felt the riders had tried their hardest. “There were certainly moments when they jumped well. That course was technical and required a careful scopey horse,” he said. “We know where the work needs to be done and what to look for in the future.”
He felt it was always going to be a big ask for particularly Maurice and Brooke given they had recently travelled from New Zealand and had no shows to lead into the event.
Ireland were all class on their way to victory in the class, finishing with a total of 10 faults from their two rounds and not even starting their anchor-man, with Canada second on 20 faults and hosts USA third on 24.
Canadian Erynn Ballard aboard Libido Van’t Hofken D’16 was the only rider in the second round to come home clear in the second round. Great Britain were fourth on 25 faults, Brazil fifth on 29 and Australia sixth on 50.
Ten combinations in the first round finished clear and inside time. At the end of the opener, Ireland sat on zero faults, Israel on four with just three combinations so no drop score, Canada on eight, the United States and Columbia on 12 apiece, Brazil and Great Britain both on 13, and Australia on 20. Mexico failed to progress with their 24 fault combined effort.
Commentators said they were surprised at just how many faults there were across the whole field, with the line producing the most faults across the class, and some surprising (lower) results from a couple of teams. The courses were designed by Nicholas Granat and Steve Stephens.
START LISTS AND RESULTS: https://wellingtoninternational.com/showgrounds/browse
Diana Dobson – hp media liaison
Photo – Brooke Edgecombe, LT Holst Andrea – courtesy Libby Law