29 Jun 2014

Strong NZ Eventing Team for WEG

8:38 am on 29 June 2014

The Warkworth equestrian Jock Paget has been named in the New Zealand team for the upcoming World Equestrian Games in France in August, for now at least.

Confirmation of Paget's selection hinges on the final ruling from the FEI Tribunal after his horse Clifton Promise tested positive for a banned substance last year, which led to the New Zealander being stripped of his Burghley title.

Earlier this month his provisional suspension was lifted, allowing him to return to competition.

New Zealand's most capped eventers Andrew Nicholson and Sir Mark Todd spearhead the four-strong team that also includes Tim Price.

Each of the four can claim at least one four star win - the highest level of eventing competition.

Nicholson has been named on either Nereo or Avebury, Todd on Leonidas, Price on Wesko and Paget on Clifton Promise.

Nicholson has ridden in all six World Equestrian Games, with his best individual result a bronze in Kentucky in 2010, when New Zealand also won a team bronze.

He and Todd, who has ridden at four WEGs, were in the gold medal-winning team in 1990 in Stockholm.

Todd was also in the team to take gold in 1998 in Rome.

It will be the second time Paget has ridden at WEG but his first in the team, while Price is on début following his recent four star win at the Luhmuhlen International Horse Trials.

Also named are individual riders Caroline Powell aboard Onwards and Upwards and Lucy Jackson on Willy Do.

New Zealand has already named vaulting and endurance teams for WEG, with the possibility of para-equestrian and showjumping representatives as well.

The team is:

Andrew Nicholson, Nereo (owned by Libby Sellar) or Avebury (owned by Rosemary and Mark Barlow); Sir Mark Todd, Leonidas (owned by Peter Cattrell and Di Brunsden); Tim Price on Wesko (owned by Christina Knudsen, Peter Vela, Lucy Sangster and Kate Watchman) and Jock Paget on Clifton Promise (owned by Frances Stead and Russell Hall).

Individuals: Caroline Powell, Onwards and Upwards (owned by Cameron and Mary Crawford). Lucy Jackson, Willy Do (owned by Mark, Gillian and Charlotte Greenlees).

Reserves: Jonelle Price, Classic Moet (owned by Trisha Rickards), Tim Price, Ringwood Sky Boy (owned by Robert Taylor, Selwood.com and Price) and Megan Heath, St Daniel.