New Zealand riders target eventing world title
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
World No 1 Tim Price is set to lead the New Zealand eventing team for the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany next month.
Tim Price will be joined by his bronze medal-winning teammates from the 2022 championships Jonelle Price, Monica Spencer and Clarke Johnstone, as well as debutant Samantha Lissington.
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Dressage representative Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH have already been announced, with the showjumpers set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Three-time Olympian Tim Price, who has also contested three World Championships, has been named aboard the hugely experienced Falco, a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding.
The combination were New Zealand’s best at the Paris Olympic Games where they were sixth and have been solid at CCI5*-L level, winning on debut at Pau (2021) with seconds at Maryland (2024) and Badminton (2026). Tim and Falco won an individual bronze at the 2022 World Champs.
Jonelle Price will ride her 12-year-old Holsteiner, Senor Crocodillo who won the CCI4*-S at Millstreet in Ireland earlier this year and placed 10th in the CCI5*-L at Pau in 2025. Jonelle, a four-time Olympian, has competed at three World Championships and in 2014 was fourth individual.
US-based Spencer and her 15-year-old off-the-track New Zealand bred thoroughbred Artist have continued to capture the hearts and praise of many. They have seven 5* starts to their cred, with a second at Maryland (2025) their best effort so far.
Johnstone, who has won two team bronze medals at World Champs (2010 and 2022), will compete aboard his 11-year-old Hanoverian Rocket Man. The combination were seventh in the CCI4*-L in their last start in France and earlier were third in the CCI4*-S at Burnham Market.
Lissington has been named aboard 10-year-old Lucas Stone for their first World Champs. The world no.7 teamed up with the Finnish-bred gelding in 2025, winning the CCI4*-L at Strzegom late last year and placing seventh in the CCI5* at Luhmuhlen recently.
As well as New Zealand winning team and individual bronze medals at the 2022 World Championships, it has previously won both team and individual bronzes at the 2010 champs in Kentucky, and team golds in 1990 and 1998, with Blyth Tait on Messiah the winners at Stockholm (1990),
Vaughn Jefferis aboard Bounce taking individual at The Hague (1994) and Blyth Tait with Ready Teddy victorious in Rome (1998) where Sir Mark Todd aboard Broadcast News won silver.
The team:
Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man, Samantha Lissington and Lucas Stone,
Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo,
Tim Price and Falco, Monica Spencer and Artist.
Reserves (in alphabetical order): James Avery and Dallas 13, Jesse Campbell and Speedwell, Clarke Johnstone and Sparky Lad, Samantha Lissington and Delarado, Tayla Mason and Centennial, Caroline Powell and High Time, Jonelle Price and Capitaine de Hus Z, Jonelle Price and Chilli’s Midnight Star, Tim Price and Vitali, and Tim Price and Jarillo.
