New Zealand felt the highs and lows of elite sport in Germany this afternoon with the second day of competition in the 2026 FEI World Jumping Championships resulting in half the field bowing out. Luke Dee and Sophie Scott will progress to second individual qualifier tomorrow night with both jumping stellar clear rounds today. The news wasn’t so good for the team who finished in 18th place after rails from Uma O’Neill and Katie Laurie. The top 60 from today progress through to tomorrow night’s competition, where the top 25 will move forward. The top 10 teams from today will also compete tomorrow evening where the winners will be decided.

Chef d’equipe Tom Tarver said while it was disappointing not to be able to secure the Los Angeles Olympic Games qualification, it was exciting to have two combinations moving through to the next round. “Both have been solid as a rock right through,” he said. “For sure we came here as a team with the target of trying to target our LA Olympic qualification, so it is a bit disappointing we won’t get that done.” He had plenty of praise for the riders, their horses, owners and supporters. “I think we can be really proud as a nation. Everyone has put their best foot forward.”

Luke was “absolutely ecstatic” with Gangster. “I couldn’t be more proud of him in this atmosphere and there are some pretty big fences out there. Most of the verticals are 1.65m each so it is pretty delicate competition out there but it seems to be riding really well. I couldn’t be happier.”

It was an emotional Sophie Scott who heaped praise on her big chestnut. “It makes me a bit emotional about how amazing he was. He is just such a special horse and to be here with him and the whole team it is just a dream come true,” she said. “I am just so lucky to be riding him and he was just unbelievable. I am so thrilled.”

Uma said she was thrilled with how Luigi d’Eclipse had handled the big stadium, despite his uncharacteristic 16 faults. “It was a tough day for me out there today. I felt I started on a good note but after fence four when we had a bit of a slip and I had to give him a good kick, the wheels kind of fell off. It’s sport. Today wasn’t our day.”

It was a disappointed Katie Laurie who spoke after her 13 fault round but she’d be cheering on Luke and Sophie. “Django was feeling great at the start of the course,” she said. “He just ended up feeling like he was out of gas at the end. It was just a bit gutting to let the team down. We were looking like we could have made it so a pretty hard one to handle.”

Tom Tarver is already talking about the next Los Angeles Olympic qualification opportunity for New Zealand. “In the end, what we need is more opportunities at this top level, along with horsepower and owners,” he said. “We have the riders, grit and plan but we need more financial help to retain the horsepower for our country that really elevates us.”

He extended a huge thank you to the Plaw family and ESNZ High Performance team for enabling jumping to have a structure that would build depth for the years ahead. “We have a really exciting time ahead,” he said. “We are a second tier nation compared to the big boys but for me, we are not a million miles away – we just need that depth and to grow it from a good base. We have shown we can do it.”

🌿Luke Dee and Gangster WW – clear 12th 2.03 penalty points
🌿Sophie Scott and Normandy GHP – clear 30th 4.37 penalty points
🌿Katie Laurie and Django II – 13f 114th 20.04 penalty points
🌿Uma O’Neill and Luigi d’Eclipse – 16f 116th 20.30 penalty points

The leaderboard . . .
🥇 Scott Brash 🇬🇧 Hello Mango 0.8 penalty points
🥈 Sophie Hinners 🇩🇪 Iron Dames Singclair 0.84 penalty points
🥉 Steve Guerdat 🇨🇭 Dynamix de Belheme 0.86 penalty points

Team standings (best 3) . . .
🥇 Germany 3.48 penalty points
🥈 United States 4.85 penalty points
🥉 Belgium 7.69 penalty points
18th New Zealand 23.70 penalty points

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By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
📸 By Libby Law/ESNZ