Kiwi Jumpers Notch Best-Ever Effort on Day One at WEG
Thursday, 20 September 2018

It’s been a stellar start for New Zealand’s jumpers at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in North Carolina where Daniel Meech, Sam McIntosh, Bruce Goodin and Sharn Wordley have had the most successful day ever for the Kiwis.

The speed class – where faults are converted to time – attracted 125 combinations from 49 nations. New Zealand finished in 15thof the 25 teams, on 13.03 penalties. Switzerland lead the pack on 2.64 with The Netherlands in second on 4.35 and Brazil third on 6.42. Just the best three scores of each team count towards the tally.

Today, McIntosh aboard Check In 2 and Meech on Fine both notched clear rounds, with Goodin aboard Backatorps Danny V and Sharn Wordley on Casper each had an unlucky rail.

McIntosh finished in 20thplace with her 81.81 second effort, Meech was 51ston 85.8 seconds, Goodin was in 65thon 88.04 and Wordley in 72ndon 88.66.

The class was won by London Olympic gold medallist Steve Guerdat (SUI) aboard Bianca who stopped the clock at 76.33 seconds to pocket the $US33,325 first prize.

New Zealand chef d’equipe Helena Stormanns was very happy with her charges. “All four horses are jumping well and the riders riding well. I feel in a very good position for tomorrow.”

McIntosh was rapt with her 15-year-old stallion. “He was really working with me and jumping out of his skin,” she said. “It got a bit hairy after the water because I had a really long stride there but he is a super water jumper so I just had to trust him and go with it and wrangle him back in after.”

This is the fifth WEG McIntosh has ridden at and she had plenty of good things to say about the Alan Wade (IRE) designed course. “It is built very well. It is not at all invasive to ride, you just need to be right on the mark where the course builder is asking you to be. It is not huge yet but I am sure it will be in a few days’ time.”
Meech, who was first out for the Kiwis, was very happy with his sometimes tricky mare. “It was fantastic – she was great,” he said.

Goodin was also pleased with the efforts of Backatorps Danny V who only joined his stable in April. “I thought he was fabulous and really tried his heart out.”

US-based Wordley felt he was unlucky their light rub of the rail had seen it fall. He is a big fan of Alan Wade’s courses and felt he had done a superb job for the opener. “He really asked the right questions and made it big enough and technical enough. He is my favourite course designer and I was happy to know he would be building here.”

But he knew the coming days would be far tougher. “A lot of horses jumped clear today so he is definitely going to build it to spec. That’s ok for us – I think all the New Zealand horses jumped well so I am excited for tomorrow.”

Teams will carry their faults from today. A new draw will decide order of go for tomorrow’s competition, with just the top 10 teams going through to Friday.

The horse details –
Casper – owned by The Sky Group
Check In 2 – owned by Takapoto Equestrian
Backatorps Danny V – owned by Backatorp Ryder AB
Fine – owned by Ann Liwing and Daniel Meech

NOTES TO EDITORS

WHAT: 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games
WHERE: Tryon International Equestrian Centre, Mill Spring, North Carolina, United States
WHEN: September 11-23, 2018
MORE INFO: www.nzequestrian.org.nzand www.TRYON2018.com