Kiwis Handily Placed After Dressage at Worlds
Friday, 29 August 2014
Jock Paget and Clifton Promise sit in third spot this morning at the end of the eventing dressage phase at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France.
Paget rode a beautiful 38 penalty point test on the Frances Stead owned horse, to sit just behind leader Sandra Auffarth (GER) on Opgun Louvo on 35.2.
New Zealand has three combinations inside the top 10 – Tim Price and Wesko (owned by Christina Knudsen, Peter Vela, Lucy Sangster and Kate Watchman) are in sixth on 42, with Lucy Jackson and Willy Do (owned by Gillian Greenlees and Jackson) in ninth equal on 43.8 in the 90-strong field.
Andrew Nicholson and Nereo (owned by Libby Sellar) are in 14th on 45.5, with Jonelle Price on Classic Moet (owned by Trish Richards) in 26th on 48.5 and Sir Mark Todd and Leonidas II (owned by Peter Cattrell and Di Brunsden) 29th on 49.2.
The team is sitting in second spot on 125.5, with the Germans leading on 116.9 and the United States in third on 138.8. Hosts France are right on their tails with 139.9 from their best three combinations.
Tomorrow is the all-important cross country course, which has been designed by Pierre Michelet and has everyone talking. Already two fences have been removed and the time altered. Rain earlier in the week has turned the ground into a bog, adding to the challenge of a true championship course. It promises to be not just big, but technical, difficult and long.
However, that generally suits the very bold New Zealand riders. Each of the team riders has won at four star level – the highest level of competition in eventing.
The dressage and cross country phases of the eventing are held at Haras du Pin, with the final showjumping round in Caen.
The Fact Box • The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games run from August 23 – September 7 in France. • New Zealand will be represented by teams in endurance (Aug 28), eventing (Aug 28-31) and vaulting (Sept 2-5), and individuals in para-dressage (Aug 25-29) and showjumping (Sept 2-7). • New Zealand has a very successful history at WEG – the team won gold in 1990 and 1998, and bronze in 2010. Individually, gold medals have been won by Blyth Tait and Messiah in 1990, Vaughn Jefferis and Bounce in 1994, and Tait and Ready Teddy in 1998. Todd and Broadcast News won silver in 1998, and in 2010 Andrew Nicholson and Nereo won bronze. • WEG is held every four years in different locations. • A record 76 countries are expected to take part, making it the world’s largest equestrian sport event which includes 1000 competitors. • More than 500,000 people are expected to attend over the two weeks. • For more information, head to www.normandy2014.com .
