Jonelle Price and Classic Moet at Luhmuhlen
New Zealand eventing has its first husband and wife combination to make a championship team after the news that Jonelle Price is stepping in for Caroline Powell.
Price’s husband Tim is already in the New Zealand team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France later this month.
Powell, who was a member of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2010 world champs, has had to withdraw after her horse Onwards and Upwards (owned by Cameron and Mary Crawford and Powell) failed to get rid of a “niggling injury”.
“I am absolutely gutted, but have always said that if he wasn’t 100% I would step aside and let someone else go,” said Powell, who is confident the horse will be back competing in the not too distant future.
“He is a stunning horse and once we get this problem sorted out he will be back stronger than ever.”
Jonelle Price, who was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the London Olympics, comes in as an individual aboard Classic Moet (owned by Trisha Rickards).
“She’s relatively new and has had a fairly quick ride through to four star level, but she is a gutsy little mare who has improved at a rate that I certainly didn’t expect,” she says.
Price figures the British bred thoroughbred will be well suited to the course in Normandy, and while she is small, she has a huge heart.
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity – I’m sorry for Caroline to come in like this but we are all united in this game and share the highs and lows of the sport. If it was the other way around, I would be equally supportive of her as she is of me.”
Price was planning on having two mounts at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, which are just a week after the World Champs, but to now have one at both top events is “the ultimate”.
And she hopes it is just the first of many championship teams she and her husband Tim will make together.
The team is -
Andrew Nicholson, Nereo (owned by Libby Sellar) or Avebury (owned by Rosemary and Mark Barlow); Sir Mark Todd, Leonidas (owned by Peter Cattrell and Di Brunsden); Tim Price on Wesko (owned by Christina Knudsen, Peter Vela, Lucy Sangster and Kate Watchman) and Jock Paget on Clifton Promise (owned by Frances Stead and Russell Hall).
Individuals: Lucy Jackson, Willy Do (owned by Mark, Gillian and Charlotte Greenlees). Jonelle Price, Classic Moet (owned by Trisha Rickards).
Reserves: Tim Price, Ringwood Sky Boy (owned by Robert Taylor, Selwood.com and Price) and Megan Heath, St Daniel.
ESNZ Press Release
