Kiwis Head to Pau for Last 4* of Season

Kiwis Head to Pau for Last 4* of Season

New Zealand eventers head this week to the last big CCI4* event on the Northern Hemisphere eventing calendar, Les Etoiles de Pau in France.

For Jonelle Price, who is still chasing that elusive four star win, it would be nice to end the season with that in hand. She lines up with the spunky little Faerie Dianimo, on whom she was fourth last year and New Zealand’s best-performed at the 2014 event.

“It would be the icing on the cake,” says the world number five ranked rider, but she is quick to add that consistency is for her, the key to success.

“This is a world-class horse who has been going from strength to strength. If we can keep building on that, then surely it is a matter of time for that win to come.”

Price ranks Faerie Dianimo as her number one, talented at all three phases, and on the day, can be up with the world’s best.

Blyth Tait, who lines up with Bear Necessity V, is keen to build on his recent success at Boekelo where he was second in the CCI3* on his other horse Xanthus III. He’s made no secret of his desire to get a “decent” four star result with the Rio Olympics certainly in his mind.

Sir Mark Todd is entered on his London Olympic horse NZB Campino on whom he was fifth in the CCI4* at Luhmuhlen in Germany earlier this year.

Tim Price and his well-performed Wesko chase their second four star win – the combination were victorious at Luhmuhlen in 2014, and second at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event earlier this year.

Jock Paget is entered aboard Clifton Signature. In 2012 Paget finished second at the event aboard Clifton Promise.

Also competing in the CCI4* are Lucy Jackson on Bosun, Tim Price on Lord of the Owls and Dan Jocelyn on Phoenix L – all of the horses are having their first four star start at Pau.

Fifty-six horses have entered the CCI4* class, including top combinations from Australia, Germany, France, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, South Africa and the United States.

The dressage phase starts on Thursday night (NZ time) and runs for two days, followed by the cross country and the showjumping.

The New Zealand riders will be looking to post top results, especially now that the country has secured a team spot at the Rio Olympics. The jostle now begins for riders to claim one of the five places on the team, and the three selectors – all of whom will be at Pau – will be looking closely at everyone.

Competing in the CIC2* at Pau are Jesse Campbell aboard Cleveland and Lucy Jackson on Mercury Bay.

While Pau is the end of the 2015 season, it also marks the start of the FEI Classics Series for 2015-2016, which encompasses the world’s six CCI4* events – Pau (FRA), the Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS), the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event (USA), the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), Luhmuhlen (GER) and the Land Rover Burghley International Horse Trials (GBR). Four star events are the highest ranked in the world of eventing. The winner of the series wins $US40,000. Andrew Nicholson is New Zealand’s only previous winner of the series.

The horses, riders and owners –

Lucy Jackson and Bosun (owned by BGV Syndicate), Dan Jocelyn and Phoenix L (owned by Panda Christie and Michael Wilson), Jock Paget and Clifton Signature (owned by Frances Stead), Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo (owned by Trisha Rickards, Jacky Green and Price), Tim Price and Lord of the Owls (owned by Brian and Vicky Tew and Susie Hawkins), Tim Price and Wesko (owned by Christina Knudsen and the Wesko Syndicate), Blyth Tait and Bear Necessity V (owned by Ronnie Bartlett), Sir Mark Todd and NZB Campino (owned by New Zealand Bloodstock and Todd), Jesse Campbell and Cleveland (owned by Jesse Campbell), Lucy Jackson and Mercury Bay (owned by Maureen Wicks).

For more information, head to www.event-pau.com

ENDS

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