Kiwi team named for world eventing champs

WELLINGTON: Worldranked Tim and Jonelle Price spearhead New Zealand’s team for the world eventing championships in Italy next month.

The No 2 and 5 ranked eventers are joined by Olympian Clarke Johnstone, formerly of Outram, along with debutants Monica Spencer and Amanda Pottinger.

The event will be a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance manager Jock Paget said it was an exciting team to name as it looks towards the Olympics.

‘‘It’s encouraging to have the combination of championship debutants and experienced campaigners such as Tim, Jonelle and Clarke in the team.

‘‘This is our qualifying opportunity for Paris and we are hopeful of contesting the medals.’’

Twotime Olympian Tim Price will compete aboard 13yearold Falco, a Germanbred gelding who in 2021 won the 5* at Pau.

Fortythreeyearold Tim has twice ridden at World Championships with an eighth in 2018 at Tryon his best effort.

Jonelle is in on McClaren, a 15yearold gelding who last year was third in the 5* at Pau.

The 41yearold rider was New Zealand’s best at the 2014 Caen world championships when she earned the moniker as the world’s fastest woman with her fourth placing.

She has previously competed at three Olympic Games and two world championships.

Johnstone was New Zealand’s best at the Rio Olympic Games with his sixthplaced effort.

The 35yearold, who rode at the 2010 world championships, has been named on Menlo Park, a Britishbred 12yearold who joined his stable late last year.

Monica Spencer and Artist are just about to board a plane to wing their way to Europe in preparation for the championships.

The 35yearold from Taupo was third in the CCI4*L at Werribee this year and has previously won at Puhinui.

Rounding out the team is Amanda Pottinger and her 16yearold New Zealandbred thoroughbred Just Kidding.

She is following in the footsteps of her mother, Tinks, who rode at top level for New Zealand and was part of the bronze medalwinning team at the Seoul Olympic Games.

The reserves for the world championships are Jesse Campbell aboard Diachello, Samantha Lissington with Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ, Matthew Grayling on Trudeau, and Dan Jocelyn with Cooley One To Many. — RNZ