New Zealand eventers will be keen to replicate the success of 2018 at CHIO Aachen in Germany this week.
The Kiwis have a pretty good track record at the prestigious event but only once have won the teams’ event. The last time was 2018 when Clarke Johnstone, Blyth Tait, Tim Price and Sir Mark Todd headed home the always competitive field.
Clarke and Tim are both back in the team this year with Rocket Man and Vitali respectively, along with Samantha Lissington on Lord Seekonig, Monica Spencer aboard Artist and Jonelle Price on Hiarado. Four combinations will be named for the team with the fifth riding as an individual.
ESNZ high performance general manager Jock Paget is looking forward to seeing Aachen with a new cross country designed by Pratoni World Champs designer Guiseppe Della Chiesa (ITA). “Aachen is a great event but a very challenging one,” he said. “We have five combinations who can all be competitive on the day. I expect the event will give us some good insight into the 2026 World Champs.”
While it is the first time Tokyo Olympic horse Vitali has started at Aachen, he has an impressive track record. The 15-year-old Holsteiner has thrice been top 10 at Badminton, and second, third and fourth at Burghley.
Aachen is a happy hunting ground for world no.4 Tim who has finished third (2018) and twice fourth (2019 and 2015) and sixth (2021) at the event.
“It will be an interesting one with Vitali,” says Tim. “He has always been a very good short-format horse. Aachen is a step up from all 4*-S in the world so it will be good to see what we can do there in all three phases.”
He’s looking forward to it, albeit with a little trepidation. “Vitali is quite an exciting challenge. A good team result is what we are after and a good look at the place before the (2026) World Champs.”
Clarke Johnstone has been named aboard his 10-year-old Hanoverian Rocket Man who was fourth at a 4*-S earlier this year. It is his first time to Aachen.
“I’m really looking forward to Aachen,” says Clarke. “It’s always one of the highlights of the year to compete at the iconic show. Being on the winning team in 2018 is definitely a career highlight for me, so I am absolutely looking to repeat that. Rocco had a very nice preparation at Luhmuhlen a couple of weeks ago and is feeling in top form.”
Samantha Lissington is aiming to continue her good run, this time aboard Lord Seekonig.
“With World Champs (2026) as our main goal it made sense to target Aachen this year to get that invaluable competition experience at the same venue,” says Samantha. “I am looking forward to being part of a New Zealand team again and hope we can continue the form we have had lately.”
Fourteen-year-old Hiarado was Jonelle’s Paris Olympic Games mount and the duo this year had a top 20 finish at the Kentucky 5*. “She has had some really good experience over the last 12 months with the Olympic Games and Kentucky. She is a bit more established at this top level now and has seen a few more sights in her life,” says Jonelle. “Kentucky was a really solid week with that tiny little blip that ruled us out of a top placing so I sort of feel it is really her time to get on with things and hopefully we can show a bit of that at Aachen.”
She felt the team looked “really strong on paper”. “I think if everyone performs to what they are capable of then hopefully we have a fighting chance.”
Monica and Artist are making the trek from their US base for the event. The 14-year-old has been consistent for his rider, with two sevenths, an eighth and an 11th at 5* events in recent years.
“Aachen is one of those events every top rider wants to compete at and I am thrilled to have been selected,” says Monica. “I am grateful to have a horse like Max (Artist) who is taking me to all these wonderful places.”
As well as the 2018 win, the New Zealand team has also been second (2019) and four times fourth (2016, 2017, 2021 and 2022). With a 175,000 Euro prize purse on the line across the team and individual classes, there is plenty to play for. The first horse inspection is on Thursday afternoon (GER time) followed by the dressage and showjumping on Friday and cross country the next day.
While the world-class Aachen is a multi-disciplined event, with competition in showjumping, dressage, driving, eventing and vaulting, New Zealand will only be represented in the eventing which runs July 4-5.
WHAT: CHIO Aachen
WHEN: June 27-July 6, 2025 – eventing July 4-5
WHERE: Aachen, Germany
MORE INFO: https://www.chioaachen.de/en/
The horse details –
Rocket Man – Diacontinus x For You who (sire For Pleasure), owned by Jean and Rob Johnstone
Hiarado – Diarado x Ubiloa (sire Ekstein), owned by David and Karie Thomson
Artist - Guillotine x Maxamore (sire Volksraad), owned by Spencer Eventing
Lord Seekonig – Lord Fauntleroy x Seekoenigin (sire Carpalo), owned by Sharon Honiss, Annabelle and Robin Greville Williams, Neil Robertson and Brayden Lissington
Vitali – Contender x Noble Lady I (sire Heraldik), owned by Joe and Alexander Giannamore and Tim Price
