A Toast to Classic Moet   1 Sep 2014

NZ Equestrian

Keep an eye on www.nzequestrian.org.nz for more news and photos from WEG.

Jonelle Price almost provided a fairy tale finish for the New Zealand eventing team at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France today.

The 33-year-old, who was a late call-up for the games after the withdrawal of Caroline Powell, would have just sneaked onto the podium if not for a pesky rail.

Price and Trisha Rickards' Classic Moet were in fourth going into the all-important showjumping phase, and a dropped rail saw them finish on 56.5 penalty points.

Following her in the showjumping were the top three – overnight leader William Fox-Pitt (GBR) on Chilli Morning, the defending champ Michael Jung (GER) on Fischerrocana FST and Sandra Auggarth (GER) on Opgun Louvo.

True to form, the Germans left everything in place before the 20,000-plus crowd, and Fox-Pitt had to go clear. But it wasn't his day, and a dropped rail saw him slip to third on 54.3 with Auffarth winning on 52 and Jung second on 52.3. The Germans also won the team prize, ahead of Great Britain, with The Netherlands in third.

Price's fourth place was all the more special because it was just the second four star start for the spunky black mare. Four star is the highest level in eventing.

And understandably, Price was delighted.

“But when you get that close to the medals, you can't help but think of what could have been,” she said.

And she's confident the horse is only going to get better and better.

“I came here hoping for a respectable performance . . . and never dreamed she would finish fourth at the worlds. This is the highlight of my career.”

She fired a cheeky shot at the selectors who had initially named her as a reserve.

“That'll teach them for leaving me off!”

Her bronze medal winning London team-mate Andrew Nicholson and Nereo (owned by Libby Sellar) slipped from fifth to ninth after uncharacteristically taking three rails in the showjumping.

Nicholson put it down to the pressure he had applied to the Spanish-bred chestnut during the very relentless cross country phase yesterday.

“We were five minutes from home and we had to slog through deep mud – that's what probably made the difference today.”

He now shifts his focus to the Land Rover Burghley International Horse Trials which start on Wednesday in the United Kingdom where he sits on a hat-trick.

Ninety-one combinations started in the dressage phase of the eventing at WEG, with just 59 making it through to the showjumping today. The cross country proved instrumental in whittling away the field, thanks to dreadful conditions underfoot, and despite two fences being taken out.

New Zealand's hopes of a team medal came to an end when Sir Mark Todd and Tim Price were both eliminated. Jock Paget retired early in the cross country, while individual Lucy Jackson was also eliminated. Jonelle Price rode as an individual.

Eric Duvander, Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance coach and chef d'equipe at WEG, was ecstatic with Price's efforts, saying she had proved Classic Moet was ready for success.

He was philosophical about the dent the cross country had made in the Kiwi efforts..

“The track was very well built and a proper WEG course, but the ground conditions were terrible,” said Duvander. “It was beyond what it should be. When you are at a championships, it shouldn't be like that.”

The plan for New Zealand had always been to chase the win, and that meant sticking your neck out.

“All our riders went as hard as they could. Their attitudes are inspirational.”

For full results, head to www.normandy2014.com .


The Fact Box
• The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games run from August 23 – September 7 in France.
• New Zealand is represented in endurance, eventing, vaulting (Sept 2-5), para-dressage and showjumping (Sept 2-7).
•New Zealand eventing has a very successful history at WEG – the team won gold in 1990 and 1998, and bronze in 2010. Individually, gold medals have been won by Blyth Tait and Messiah in 1990, Vaughn Jefferis and Bounce in 1994, and Tait and Ready Teddy in 1998. Todd and Broadcast News won silver in 1998, and in 2010 Andrew Nicholson and Nereo won bronze.
• WEG is held every four years in different locations.
• A record 76 countries are expected to take part, making it the world’s largest equestrian sport event which includes 1000 competitors.
• More than 500,000 people are expected to attend over the two weeks.
• For more information, head to www..normandy2014.com .


Ends

Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more