New Zealand has finished second behind hosts Germany at the CICO3* FEI Nations Cup in Aachen this morning, with three riders in the top eight.
Ingrid Klimke (GER) took the quinella in the individual class with her horses FEH Escada JS and Horseware Hale Bob, with her team-mate Sandra Auffarth, the current world champion, and Opgun Louvo third.
Tim Price was the best individual for the Kiwis with his fourth place finish on Wesko which saw them finish on their dressage score of 40.2 penalty points.
“As a team event, this has been great,” said Tim Price. “We felt very strong and unified. We can see where we can improve and feel we are knocking on the door to give a stunning team like the Germans a run for their money.”
He said it was important for him and his team-mates to notch a good result.
“We would like to think we are in a situation where we can take the pressure and perform under that, so it was great to do just that.”
He felt the cross country called for plenty of precision.
“Right from the first fence I had a line and everywhere I went I rode exactly how I wanted, and it needed to be that way in order to make the time achievable and not be too scrappy. My horse, he is a careful jumper and loves his job, but he is not the sort of horse I can poke and prod and demand too much from. It has got to be on his enjoyment level.”
His wife Jonelle was just behind him in sixth place on Faerie Dianimo after adding cross country time faults to her dressage score to finish on 41. Sir Mark Todd and NZB Campino were eighth in 45.6 after also picking up time faults in the cross country. The remaining team member, Jock Paget, was eliminated in the cross country on Clifton Lush.
It was the eighth consecutive year Germany has won at Aachen.
Caroline Powell, who rode as an individual, was 26th aboard Onwards and Upwards with 86.7.
Just five combinations were clear and inside time in the Rüdiger Schwarz-designed cross country, with seven eliminated on course and one retired.
New Zealand high performance eventing coach, and chef d’equipe at Aachen, Erik Duvander was very pleased with the Kiwi efforts.
“I am very happy how our riders mastered the course,” he said.
“And we are delighted with out second place. To be honest, after walking the (cross country) course, we thought it was a bit easier than in past years but we were certainly proved wrong. It was a challenge . .
. a real three-star course.:
Results -
Individual: Ingrid Klimke (GER) FRH Escada JS 32.1 1, Ingrid Klimke
(GER) Horseware Hale Bob 37 2, Sandra Auffarth (GER) Opgun Louvo 37.2 3, Tim Price (NZL) Wesko 40.2 4, Michael Jung (GER) Fischer Takinou 40.8 5, Jonelle Price (NZL) Faerie Dianimo 41 6, Andrew Hoy (AUS) Cheeky Calimbo
41.3 7, Sir Mark Todd (NZL) NZB Campino 45.6 8, Michael Jung (GER) Halunke FBW 46.3 9, Dirk Schrade (GER) Hop and Skip 47.6 10.
Team: Germany 120.5 1, New Zealand 126.8 2, United States 192.9 3, Ireland 193.4 4, Australia 199.3 5, Sweden 239.3 6, Canada 291.9 7, Great Britain 1106.5 8, Netherlands 1203.2 9.
For more information, head to
http://www.aachen2015.de/en/programm-sport#129 .
