A Storming Finish for Silver

A storming finish from the top Kiwi eventers was not
quite enough to give them gold at the Aachen
International Festival in Germany tonight (Saturday).

 The team finished second, just behind Great
Britain who have been in devastating form this season, with Clarke Johnstone on
Orient Express and Caroline Powell on Lenamore both in the top 10.

 Twenty-four-year-old Johnstone was a little
lost for words after finishing in sixth place overall.

 “I am so pleased that we've
come out at an event like this and done so well,” he said. “It is just
fantastic.”

 All of the New Zealand team members moved up
the rankings on the back of their cross country efforts.

 World champs team bronze medallist Johnstone
went clear and picked up just 1.6 time faults over a very challenging cross
country course, underlining his determination to make the final cut for the
London Olympics.

 Powell, his teammate from world champs, also
went clear with 2.8 time, to finish in seventh spot. Both Andrew Nicholson on
Nereo and Jonathan Paget on Clifton Promise were clear and inside time,
finishing 15th and 16th respectively.

 Newcomer Jonelle Richards and Flintstar were
the first out for the Kiwis over the cross country course, and rode a brilliant
trail blazing ride, to finish 33rd .

 Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance director
Sarah Harris was rapt with the whole team, saying they're right on track for
London.

 “I couldn't ask for any more from them,” she says. “We
were in the medal hunt right from the start. The cross country was tough and
time very tight, so all our crew did very well.”

 She had plenty of praise for Johnstone, whose performance
came on the back of world cup wins in both Kihikihi and Sydney earlier this
season.

 “He came out here and his sixth placing is the result of a
well deserved performance. He has really shown what he is capable of.” 

 ESNZ eventing high performance coach Erik Duvander says
there is still work to be done by the whole team, but he was chuffed with the
result.

 “All our riders are working very hard and improving all
the time. There was a lot of atmosphere out there but they were good to the
end.”

 World champion Michael Jung (GER) and La Biosthetique-Sam
FBW was all class on his way to individual victory, finishing off a dominating
performance with just 2..4 time faults over the cross country.

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Results, team:

 Great Britain 134.7 1; New Zealand (Clarke Johnstone,
Orient Express 45.1, Caroline Powell, Lenamore 47.4, Andrew Nicholson, Nereo
50.4) 142.9 2, Sweden 159.2 3, Australia 161.2 4, Germany 172.5 5, France
222.5 6, Belgium 238.2 7, Italy 253.6 8.

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Individuals:

 Michael Jung (GER) La Biosthetique-Sam FW dressage 32.3,
showjumping 0f, cross country 2.4 total 34.7 1; Stefano Brecciaroli (ITA)
Apollo van de Wendi Kurt Hoeve 34.8, 5f, 1.6, 41.4 2; William Fox-Pitt (GBR)
Neuf des Coeurs 42.1, 0f, 0,42.1 3; Mary King (GBR) Imperial Cavalier 42.9, 0f,
0f, 42.9 4; Andreas Dibowski (GER) FRH Fantasia 43.1, 0f, 0.8, 43.9 5; Clarke
Johnstone (NZL) Orient Express 43.5, 0f, 1.6, 45.1 6; Caroline Powell (NZL)
Lenamore 44.6, 0f, 2.8, 47.4 7; Sara Algotsson-Osholt (SWE) Wega 42.5, 5,
0, 47.5 8, Lucinda Fredericks (AUS) Flying Finish 41, 0f, 6.8, 47.8 9,

 Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Nereo 44.4, 6f, 0, 50.4 15;
Jonathan Paget (NZL) Clifton Promise 52.5, 0f, 0, 52.5 16; Jonelle Richards
(NZL) Flintstar 54.2, 15f, 36.4, 105.6 33.



Diana Dobson Equestrian Sports NZ High Performance Media Liaison

Posted by:
Anne Vallance

EVENTING News

A Storming Finish for Silver
Sunday, 17 July 2011

EVENTING News

A Storming Finish for Silver Sunday, 17 July 2011

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A Storming Finish for Silver
Sunday, 17 July 2011