It was a mixed bag for the Kiwis after a very influential cross country day at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen. The team now sits in eighth place – a slot they need to hold to ensure they qualify for the 2028 LA Olympic Games.

ESNZ high performance general manager Jock Paget said it had been an exciting and thrilling day of sport. “We knew the cross country would be influential,” he said. “Losing our first team rider, Clarke Johnstone meant we had to adjust the plan after that.”

Second out for the team were Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo who were held on course for nearly eight minutes which did not suit the course and they had an unfortunate stop at the penultimate fence. “Once that happened our medal chances were gone, so our focus shifted to the Olympic qualifier. Tim (Price) and Monica (Spencer) did a really good job of being as fast as they could whilst significantly reducing the risk of something going wrong.

” Monica Spencer and Artist added just 4.8 time to finish on 33.7 penalty points in 13th place. “It felt very busy out there but Max was a good boy,” said Monica. “The plan was first and foremost clear and to go as fast as I could go without taking any risks. I was very deliberate out there . . . I was lucky to be on Max. I had not been able to use Max’s gallop as much as I would in a 5*.”

Tim Price and Falco were also clear jumping, adding 8.4 time to finish on 42.1. “We have done a lot together,” said Tim of his partnership with the horse. “The course was really challenging but he was just mega. He was jumping, looking, wanting to go. If he is having fun, my job is easy. It was a great course – quite a dramatic course to ride especially when you are trying to go a bit faster. He was super. “We did what we could in terms of that last combination – there have been all sorts of Mickey Mouse moments through there and I did not want to be one of them . . . I turned the clock off coming into that. I am happy.”

Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo had time and jumping for their 57.6 score. They had a very long hold on course which didn’t suit the horse. “He was giving me a lovely ride and we had knocked off a fair chunk of the work,” she said. “It was really unfortunate to be held – the horse has never been held before. I really think he thought he had run his race and that was that. We managed to get back up and running eventually but he was a little bit laboured thereafter and lacked a bit of focus which showed.

“We had a bit of a hole to dig ourselves out of without Clarke’s horse coming home and my job was simply to go and do my part and I was on track to do that. “ It was tough when neither she nor the horse had done anything wrong.

Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man were eliminated after fence 11. “Unfortunately things didn’t go to plan at all today,” said Clarke. “After a brilliant start where Rocco was jumping so, so well and feeling fantastic, we were pulled up after number 11 with some blood in the nose and couldn’t continue.” The horse is “absolutely” fine and happy back in his stable. “Sometimes these things just happen.”

Individual rider Samantha Lissington and Lucas Stone added just time for an end-of-day tally of 54.9. “It was amazing,” said Samantha. “I felt for such a young horse he really answered everything I asked of him. Being an individual, rather that the team, you only have yourself to rely on but I wasn’t going to let anyone down. I took a few longer routes to set him up for the future. For this little horse we have LA (Olympic Games) in mind.

The Guiseppe Della Chiesa (ITA) designed course certainly delivered on its promise of being a true championship affair. As expected, the time was tight and twists, turns and undulations of the course certainly took its toll. Quite a few of the top countries were down to just three riders very early in the piece, including Great Britain, Switzerland, the United States and France.

It is a British German logjam at the top of the leaderboard with Michael Jung (GER) and fischerChipmunk FRH now in front after a perfect run and remains on their 23 penalty point dressage score. Ros Canter (GBR) and Lordships Graffalo also added nothing to their 23.4 dressage effort to move to second while Laura Collett (GBR) and London 52 are in third on 23.6 after adding .8 time for an end of day score of 23.6.

Sixty-five combinations completed the day, with two retirements on course, 17 eliminations, and two withdrawals. There will be a second horse inspection tomorrow at 9.30am (GER time) before the draw is done for the final jumping test which is set to start at 1pm (GER time).

🌿 Monica Spencer and Artist (team) 33.7 penalty points 13th
🌿 Tim Price and Falco (team) 42.1 penalty points 31st
🌿 Samantha Lissington and Lucas Stone (individual) 54.9 penalty points 43rd
🌿 Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo (team) 57.6 penalty points 46th

Team standings
🥇 Great Britain 75.6 penalty points
🥈 Germany 90.4 penalty points
🥉 Switzerland 106.5 penalty points
8th New Zealand 133.4 penalty points

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