Tim and Jonelle Price have five horses between them on the New Zealand squad
There is little change to revised eventing squads under the Equestrian Sport New Zealand High Performance Programme announced today.
In-form couple Tim and Jonelle Price gain and lose a horse between them, but otherwise the High Performance Squad remains unchanged.
The couple have been in some searing form this season, with the world number five ranked rider Jonelle top seven in her last four starts, with a recent second place in the CCI4* at Luhmuhlen (GER) aboard Faerie Dianimo (owned by Trisha Rickards and Jacky Green), who was fourth in the CCI4* at Pau (FRA), won the CIC3* at Blenheim (UK) and seventh in the CIC3* at Tattersalls (IRE). Jonelle also has Classic Moet (owned by Trisha Rickards) on squad, her fourth-placed mount at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2014.
Meanwhile Tim Price is named with three horses – the on-form Wesko (owned by Christina Knudsen and the Wesko Syndicate) who was second in the CCI4* Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, Ringwood Sky Boy (owned by Robert Taylor, Varenna Allen, Selwood.com and Price) and newcomer Bango (owned by the Numero Uno Syndicate).
Sir Mark Todd has his two – Leonidas II (owned by Pater Cattell and Di Brunsden) and NZB Campino (owned by New Zealand Bloodstock and Todd) – back on squad.
Campino notched a fifth-place finish in the CCI4* at the recent Luhmuhlen (GER), along with wins in the CIC3* at Tattersalls (IRE) and CICO3* at Houghton Hall (UK).
Leonidas II has also been finding some good form in recent months, with top six finishes in his last three starts, including fourth in the CCI4* at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (UK).
Jock Paget has both Clifton Lush (owned by Frances Stead and Lucy Allison) and Clifton Promise (owned by Frances Stead and Russell Hall) back on squad – Lush was third in the CCI4* at Badminton this year.
Caroline Powell and Lucy Jackson are named on the High Performance Squad with one horse each – Powell with Onwards and Upwards (owned by Mary and Cameron Crawford and Powell), who was third in the CIC3* at Bramham (UK) this season, and Jackson with Willy Do (owned by Mark, Gillian and Charlotte Greenlees), who is not currently competing due to injury.
Clarke Johnstone remains the only New Zealand-based member of the squad with his grey Balmoral Sensation (owned by the Johnstone Family).
Combinations named in the squad have shown an ability to finish in the top five (individually) at the 2016 Rio Olympics, as well as committing to the ethos expected of a member of Team New Zealand.
Missing from the squad is Andrew Nicholson, who has chosen to withdraw from negotiations to reintegrate him into the High Performance Squad.
Rising stars Lizzie Brown and Jesse Campbell, both who have shown some brilliant form in recent outings, have been named again in the High Performance Eventing Accelerator Squad.
The Accelerator Squad aims to bring talented young riders through the ranks with the goal of representation at future top events.
Both of the squads under the High Performance Programme will be reviewed again in December.
Also announced are the Talent Development and Talent ID squads. Abby Lawrence (Te Puke), who won the CIC3* at the 2015 Kihikihi International Horse Trial, is the only newcomer to the Talent Development Squad, while joining the ID Squad for the first time are Renee Faulkner (Papakura), Samantha Mynott (Hamilton) and Abigail Long (Levin).
The Squads
High Performance Eventing Squad: Jonelle Price with Classic Moet (owned by Trisha Rickards) and Faerie Dianimo (owned by Trisha Rickards and Jacky Green); Tim Price with Wesko (owned by Christina Knudsen and the Wesko Syndicat), Ringwood Sky Boy (owned by Robert Taylor, Varenna Allen, Selwood.com and Price) and Bango (owned by the Numero Uno Syndicate); Sir Mark Todd with Leonidas II (owned by Peter Cattell and Di Brunsden), NZB Campino (owned by New Zealand Bloodstock and Todd); Jock Paget with Clifton Promise (owned by Frances Stead and Russell Hall) and Clifton Lush (owned by Frances Stead and Lucy Allison); Caroline Powell with Onwards and Upwards (owned by Mary and Cameron Crawford and Powell); Clarke Johnstone with Balmoral Sensation (owned by the Johnstone Family) and Lucy Jackson with Willy Do (owned by Mark, Gillian and Charlotte Greenlees).
High Performance Eventing Accelerator Squad: Lizzie Brown and Jesse Campbell.
Talent Development Eventing Squad: Amanda Pottinger (Waipukurau), Sarah Young (Tokoroa), Samantha Felton (Matangi), Tayla Mason (Paraparaumu), Virginia Thompson (Henderson), Abby Lawrence (Te Puke).
Talent ID Eventing Squad: Aleisha Collett (Pukekohe), Bonnie Farrant (Rangiora), Madison Crowe (Rakaia), Francesca Silver (Martinborough), Renee Faulkner (Papakura), Samantha Mynott (Hamilton), Abigail Long (Levin).
Source: ESNZ
