New Zealand Team Ready for WEG

(Photo: Katie McVean and Dunstan Delphi) Refusing to be outdone by the Aussies, our friends across the ditch are fielding an excellent team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The Kiwis, renowned for their brilliant eventers, have also selected what is possibly the strongest New Zealand jumping team ever, as well as an accomplished endurance team.

Regarding the jumping team, Chef d'equipe Richard Sunderland has commented, "Potentially this is the best team I have ever had anything to do with, and reflects the new direction the ESNZ High Performance Program has taken, to ensure that those selected have the ability to achieve the high targets set. We've got three competitors who are consistently jumping clear at 1.6m and a fourth with a young horse coming into his own now".


The 2010 New Zealand WEG jumping team members are:

• [FONT=Times New Roman]Samantha McIntosh (Waikato/Belgium) on Loxley 38


• [FONT=Times New Roman]Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) on Dunstan Delphi


• [FONT=Times New Roman]Guy Thomas (California) on Peterbilt


• [FONT=Times New Roman]Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on Apollo van Evendael

[FONT=Times New Roman]Beatson rode for New Zealand at the 1988 Olympics and 1994 World Games, Thomas rode at the 2004 Olympics and McVean the 2008 Olympics. McIntosh competed at the Sydney 2000 Olympics for Bulgaria and is considered one of the most successful showjumping riders to have come out of New Zealand. She has also competed at World Championships, a World Cup final and European Championships. McIntosh returned to New Zealand colours earlier this year.

[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]On the eventing front, the New Zealand team members are:

• [FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Andrew Nicholson on Nereo (Owner: Deborah Sellar)

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• [FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Mark Todd on NZB Grass Valley (Owner:NZ Bloodstock Mr Peter Vela & M Todd)


• [FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Caroline Powell on Mac Macdonald (Owner: Pat Melville Evans & C Powell)


• [FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Jonathan Paget on Clifton Promise (Owner: Frances Stead)


• [LEFT][FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book][FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Clarke Johnstone on Orient Express (Owner: Clarke Johnstone and family)[/LEFT]

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The experience of Todd and Nicholson, backed by the strength of Powell, and the eager youthfulness of Paget and Johnstone, made for a team that could only go from strength to strength.
[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Nicholson and Todd hold the honour of being the only two Kiwis to have been named for six Olympic Games and between them hold an impressive clutch of medals and titles – Todd having won two Olympic gold medals and two team WEG gold medals, with Nicholson having won a gold team medal at WEG.
[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Another discipline at WEG that will see New Zealanders flying the flag, is Endurance. The New Zealand team members are:

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• [FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Alison Higgins (Nelson) on Twynham El Omar


• [FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Debby Worsfold (Rangiora) on Northwinds Bradley McGregor (owned by Chris King)


• [FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Jenny Chandler (Te Awamutu) on Lace and Fineness

[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]These riders will compete in the 160-kilometre endurance ride in Kentucky, against the best in the world, where it is thought the terrain will suit the Kiwi horses perfectly, but much hinges on solid riding skills and a strong team performance -with just three in the team, there is no luxury of a drop off score.

[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Higgins is the highest world ranked member of the team, coming in at number 10 – her best ranking was three earlier this year. She'll compete on her horse Twynham El Omar, who was one of a trio of horses she competed successfully on in New Zealand this past season. [FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]The 41-year-old current South Island champ has only been involved in endurance since 2002, but has moved quickly through the ranks.
[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Twenty-four year old Worsfold has previously ridden in South Africa for New Zealand and has won the South Island Championships and finished second at National Championships.
[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]Rounding out the team is 44-year-old Chandler, who is relatively new to the sport, however, has placed well in national competitions.
[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]The endurance team was the first of the New Zealand teams to be announced and initially a five-strong team was named but two of those announced later withdrew.

[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book]HORSEZONE WISHES THE BEST OF LUCK TO THE KIWIS COMPETING IN KENTUCKY!