World Champs Throw it all at Kiwis
It’s been a day of highs and lows for the New Zealand team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in North Carolina with the endurance ride cancelled mid-run and the eventers poised to give it their all as competition gets underway tomorrow.
The reduced endurance ride dissolved into chaos this afternoon when it was cancelled with the leading riders having just come in from the third of four loops.
Earlier the planned 160km championship ride had not got off to the best of starts – this morning some teams were misdirected at the beginning of the ride and the competition was stopped at the first vet gate. By that time most riders had covered around 40kms. Organisers then restarted the ride as a 120km championship nearly five hours later.
So while it was a very contentious call to can the ride entirely, it was a unanimous decision between the president of the ground jury, the technical delegate, the president of the veterinary commission and the organising committee, citing welfare of the horse as the key driver.
As the decision was announced, the crowd erupted, whistling and yelling their disgust, and running towards the fences surrounding the vet check areas. Calls for calm went largely ignored, with security and police quickly brought in.
New Zealand’s two riders – Jenny Champion aboard Barak Obama and Philip Graham on Rosewood Bashir – who were on their second loop withdrew their horses before the decision was made.
Chef de mission Sarah Dalziell-Clout said it was a real credit to their horsemanship, recognising the conditions were just too tough.
Champion said her priority was to look after her horse. “He was really feeling the heat,” she said. “We had already done 90km if you include the first loop this morning. It is a long way to come for this to happen.”
She said the marking on the ride had been very good, but the track got very stodgy after a particularly heavy downpour. “It made it quite treacherous for horses and then when the sun came out it was so hot. I am disappointed, but I know I did the right thing.”
Graham had not long passed Champion when he too called the race. “We had a drink at a creek crossing and he just was not as responsive as usual. With heat and humidity like that, things were only going to go one way. I am just disappointed for the day and the event and the way it transpired. It is quite an historic day for endurance.”
The FEI has tasked the independent Equestrian Community Integrity Unit with doing a full investigation into how it all went so wrong. The investigation will include interviews with officials, volunteers, the organising committee and any other relevant personnel to provide a full picture of just what happened.
Chef d’equipe for the New Zealand endurance team Sue Reid said it had been a challenging start to the day. When the 160km ride was cancelled a petition was circulated calling for people to support horses and riders being flown to Europe for another shot at the championships. Eighteen of the 40 countries in the ride agreed, with two later withdrawing their support. New Zealand did not sign the petition.
New Zealand’s eventing representatives are ready to get their championships underway with all five combinations through the horse inspection and having had their first look at the Captain Mark Phillips-designed cross country.
Sir Mark Todd aboard McClaren, Tim Price on Cekatinka, Jonelle Price on Classic Moet and Blyth Tait on Dassett Courage will ride as the team with Dan Jocelyn aboard Grovine de Reve the individual.
The riders’ walk of the cross country was interrupted with another torrential downpour, which Tait said hindered their inspection a little. “It is beautifully dressed, and the footing is superb. It does look less technical than we expected,” he said, “but there are definitely some combinations that will need careful consideration. There will be problems, but it is a strong 3* - probably not a 4*.”
Mid-field there is a combination of corners that Tait said he would certainly be wary of. “There are distance and line issues and it is right up to height – that is one to walk many, many times before I ride it.”
The “big pull” up the hill at the eight-minute mind will be something riders will have to keep in mind late in the cross country. “It will be very energy-sapping.”
But there is something bigger that could come into play – the weather. “One of the biggest contributing factors will be the weather,” he says. “It’s a bit hit and miss really as to whether you are riding in a thunder storm or 10 minutes later in bright sun and heat. It is certainly tough enough out there.”
And he is chuffed to be at WEG – all those years after he won double gold back in Stockholm in 1990.
“For me it is a reward for our effort over the last couple of years. I like my little horse (Dassett Courage) and although he has not got a more solid 4* career, I don’t think he lacks in ability.”
All five riders were in good form at an earlier press conference with chef d’equipe Graeme Thom saying he thought his Kiwi charges were probably “the best group of people” he has ever met.
Both Tait and Jocelyn were excited to be back in a New Zealand team at top level. “For me it is a big thrill,” said Jocelyn. “It has been a long time in between.”
His sentiments were echoed by Tait. “It is the first time I have ridden on the team with the two Prices, so that is exciting for me. I am kind of just treating it like it was my first championships it is so long since the last one!”
Jonelle Price said her feisty mare Classic Moet had been run fairly lightly since Badminton which was perfect for a horse who knew her job so well. “Her strength is the cross country and we brought her here hoping the hill and speed was going to be influential. If it is not, then I am in trouble. Let’s just hope that they have got it right and we get 10 inches of rain and it is as hot as hell and the hill is a minute longer than anyone realises.”
Husband Tim said he would be reminding himself of the pressure he handled at Burghley. “It is very much a team effort here – it is not going to be about one single performance.”
Tomorrow is dressage day with pure dressage rider Julie Brougham (Palmerston North) and Vom Feinsten in action at 9.18am (EST) followed by eventing dressage for Blyth Tait aboard Dassett Courage at 10.11am and Sir Mark Todd on McClaren at 2.34pm. On Friday, team mates Tim and Jonelle Price compete aboard Cekatinka and Classic Moet at 10.59am and 3.37pm respectively. Individual Dan Jocelyn and Grovine de Reve is set to go at 9.08am.
The 2018 World Equestrian Games are held every four years and are the pinnacle of the sport. This year it will be the largest sporting event in North Carolina’s history with more than $400 US million of projected economic impact and 500,000 spectators over the 13-day event.
The horse details –
Rosewood Bashir – owned by Philip Graham
Barack Obama – owned by Mark Round
Vom Feinsten – owned by Julie and David Brougham
McClaren – owned by David and Katherine Thomson
Cekatinka – owned by Joanne Pullan
Classic Moet – owned by Trisha Rickards and Jonelle Price
Grovine de Reve – owned by Therese Miller, Jo Preston-Hunt Philip Hunt and Dan Jocelyn
Dassett Courage – owned by Thomas Barr, Sally Grant and Blyth Tait
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
