NZ Eventers Set to take on the World

World no.1 Tim Price spearheads the New Zealand eventing team for the FEI World Championships in Aachen in August. He’ll be joined by his bronze medal-winning teammates from the 2022 championships Jonelle Price, Monica Spencer and Clarke Johnstone, as well as debutant Samantha Lissington.

Equestrian Sports New Zealand general manager of high performance Jock Paget says the selected combinations reflect the strength, depth and current form needed for this year’s campaign at Aachen. “This is a targeted event for us and we will be throwing everything at it,” he said. “It is very exciting to be heading to these championships with three disciplines representing New Zealand. This is an important step for us as a high performance system and developing our programmes as we prepare for future championships and team representation.” Dressage representative Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH have already been announced, with the showjumpers set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Jock extended a “massive shout out” to all the owners, athletes, grooms, HPSNZ funders, sponsors and supporters who continued to help. “There is a lot that needs to be done to hit our target at Aachen but it starts with having an eventing team capable of that . . . which is just what we have.”

Three-time Olympian Tim Price, who has also contested three World Championships, has been named aboard the hugely experienced Falco, a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding. The combination were New Zealand’s best at the Paris Olympic Games where they were sixth and have been solid at CCI5*-L level, winning on debut at Pau (2021) with seconds at Maryland (2024) and Badminton (2026). Tim and Falco won an individual bronze at the 2022 World Champs.

“It is always a privilege to be named in a team,” said Tim. “It is a big job for any rider to get themselves in a position to be selected. I am lucky to have a lot of horses but nothing is a given – you still have to go and produce some results and earn your spot. I think I have done that and am very happy to be going again.” Falco heads to the Champs in good form. “He is pretty good at dealing with the unexpected. We just want to get a team medal and I want to be a heavy contributor to that mission.”

Jonelle Price will ride her 12-year-old Holsteiner, Senor Crocodillo who won the CCI4*-S at Millstreet in Ireland earlier this year and placed 10th in the CCI5*-L at Pau in 2025. Jonelle, a four-time Olympian, has competed at three World Championships and in 2014 was fourth individual. “Senor Crocodillo is a horse I thought was coming into his prime at the right time for this particular championships,” said Jonelle. “We have a really strong partnership. He has taken a bit of time but he has absolute trust in me. He has always been a really solid jumper . . . that is his forte for sure.”

She described Senior Crocodillo as a “workman” which was quite the change from her many hot mares she usually rode. “He is a really good guy to work with every day and I thoroughly enjoy riding him.” Jonelle was also chuffed for the horse’s owner Joe Giannamore who has been a longstanding supporter of the team for several decades. “I am really looking forward to going out to Aachen, seeing what we can do and contributing to a healthy team score.”

US-based Monica Spencer and her 15-year-old off-the-track New Zealand bred thoroughbred Artist have continued to capture the hearts and praise of many. They have seven 5* starts to their cred, with a second at Maryland (2025) their best effort so far. “Max is a legend,” says Monica. “He’s got me onto another New Zealand team and I couldn’t be prouder. Aachen was a great success for the team last year so it is exciting to be heading back.”

Clarke Johnstone, who has won two team bronze medals at World Champs (2010 and 2022), will compete aboard his 11-year-old Hanoverian Rocket Man. The combination were seventh in the CCI4*-L in their last start in France and earlier were third in the CCI4*-S at Burnham Market. Clarke was also very excited to be named in the team. “It is always a culmination of a lot of time, effort, planning and hoping,” he said. “Everything has to go right. Rocket Man is a gorgeous horse and this has been his target for several years. He is a beautiful guy in every way.” He said the team was very motivated to increase the number of medals won and change the colour from the bronze won in 2022. “We won the Nations Cup team gold at Aachen last year. I love the place and will be doing everything I can to repeat that this year.”

Samantha Lissington has been named aboard 10-year-old Lucas Stone for their first World Champs. The world no.7 teamed up with the Finnish-bred gelding in 2025, winning the CCI4*-L at Strzegom late last year and placing seventh in the CCI4*-S at Luhmuhlen recently. “Being named for our first World Championships is such a big deal and particularly so on this horse,” said Samantha. “We bought him as a 3* horse 18 months ago as a potential backup horse for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. We never could have hoped that his trajectory would give us our first opportunity to wear the fern at the championships. “He has been a real professional and is so up for the job. I am excited to finish our final preparations and head to Aachen.”

To be named was a culmination of effort and support from the past seven years she had been based in the Northern Hemisphere and Samantha thanked all those who had been part of the journey.
Twenty-five combinations were considered for selection, with an exciting group named in the top five and reserve list, believing all could contribute to a podium placing.

As well as New Zealand winning team and individual bronze medals at the 2022 World Championships, it has previously won both team and individual bronzes at the 2010 champs in Kentucky, and team golds in 1990 and 1998, with Blyth Tait on Messiah the winners at Stockholm (1990), Vaughn Jefferis aboard Bounce taking individual at The Hague (1994) and Blyth Tait with Ready Teddy victorious in Rome (1998) where Sir Mark Todd aboard Broadcast News won silver.

Aachen previously hosted the championships in 2006 and is renowned as a world-class venue.

THE EVENTING TEAM (in alphabetical order):

THE EVENTING RESERVES (in alphabetical order):

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

30th June 2026