CHIO Aachen delivered on its reputation as one of the hardest events to win, and unfortunately it didn’t go the way of the New Zealand eventers.

ESNZ high performance general manager Jock Paget said it had been a tough day at the office for the team who were chasing hard for a podium finish at one of its targeted events as the march continues to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier were the best of the bunch with a seventh place finish in the CCIO4*-S. The London Olympian finished on 39.5 penalty points after adding just a handful of cross country time penalties to her dressage score. “I am thrilled to bits,” said Caroline. “She loved it out there.”

Caroline had been in 20th after notching a 31.9 penalty point dressage score, added nothing in the showjumping, and then jumping clear but adding 7.6 time penalties in the cross country for a final seventh place.

Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park placed 15th on a score of 45.5. They were in 25th after their 33.1 dressage test, adding four faults for a rail in the showjumping but then clear with 8.4 time to finish the event.

Tim Price and Falco paying the price for two late runouts for a final score of 84.4. The world no.1 had been in fourth after the dressage with a 26 penalty point effort. Their clear efforts in the showjumping saw them stay in that position but 40 jump and 18.4 time saw them slip on the leaderboard.

Jonelle Price parted company with McClaren after an awkward entry to the water when she wasn’t able to regather before falling – both are ok. They had recorded 32.4 for their dressage and were all clear in the showjumping to move to 17th spot, before being eliminated in the very influential cross country.

The teams’ event, won by hosts Germany, saw the Kiwis place sixth on 169.4 penalty points. Germany won on 104.9 with the United States second on 108.2 and Great Britain third on 136.6.

Individual Samantha Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ finished on 61 penalty points. Their 31 penalty point dressage test saw them at 14th place at the end of the phase, and they added eight in the showjumping, and a further 22 time in the cross country.

Jock Paget says the team had gone for the win. “That comes with a lot of risk and unfortunately it wasn’t our day,” said Jock. “Tim and Falco had a great fast round, right up until the last minute of the course where they had an uncharacteristic run out.”

He was full of praise for Caroline and Clarke’s clear rounds and said it was great to see Samantha jump clear in her first Aachen. “It was a tough day in the office.”

Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Blanzai du Lior won the class on 27.1. Thirty-nine of the 44 original starters completed all three tests. Five combinations were eliminated on the cross country. No one was home clear and inside time on the cross country.

MORE INFO: https://www.chioaachen.de/en/
START LISTS AND RESULTS: https://rechenstelle.de/en/agenda/2023/aachen/

The horse details;
Falco (by Cardenio 2 out of Witta who is by Weinberg) – owned by Sue Benson and Tim Price
McClaren (by Vlarimo out of Toni 1 who is by Landjunge) – owned by David and Katherine Thomson
Menlo Park (by Berlin out of Faerie Queen who is by Rock King) – owned by Jean, Rob and Clarke Johnstone
Greenacres Special Cavalier (by Cavalier Royale out of Greenacres Touch who is by Touchdown) – owned by Chris Mann
Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ (by Caretino out of Quantum Flash who is by Tristaking) – owned by Pip McCarroll and Samantha Lissington

By Diana Dobson – ESNZ high performance media liaison
Photos: Libby Law ESNZ