New Zealand riders win Nations Cup event
- Dave Worsley
- Jul 6
- 2 min read
The New Zealand equestrian team have won the Nations Cup for just the second time, as Tim Price won the individual title at CHIO Aachen in Germany.
Four New Zealanders finished in the top 10, Price leading through all phases for his victory on Vitali, sealing the individual and team gold medals with a superb cross-country round.
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The successful pair had 30.5 penalty points, giving Price his first individual victory at Aachen, one of the world's toughest equestrian events.
Monica Spencer on Artist finished sixth with 37.2 penalty points, Clarke Johnstone on Rocket Man (40.8) ninth, and individual rider Jonelle Price on Hiarado (41.3) 10th. The other team member, Samantha Lissington, finished 22nd on Lord Seekonig.
Great Britain favourites, but the New Zealanders managed to triumph by 8.7 penalty points, with the United States second and the British eventually third.
Tim Price and Johnstone were in the New Zealand team that won the Nations Cup in 2018, with Blyth Tait and Sir Mark Todd. Price finished third on individual points that year and has also had two fourths at Aachen.
Spencer and Artist, who had travelled from their US base for the event, had the quickest cross-country round, going clear with just 0.4 time penalties.
Spencer, Johnstone and the Prices all had clear showjumping rounds, adding just time penalties.
Tim Price felt the showjumping, which had sometimes been a challenging phase for 15-year-old Vitali, had this time opened the door to victory for him.
"He has always been a very good cross country horse and was super today. I am absolutely thrilled for the team.''
Equestrian Sports NZ general manager of high performance Jock Paget said he was thrilled with all five Kiwi combinations.
Aachen had been a key target for the year and an important event given it will host the 2026 world championships.
"To pull it off in this way is amazing," said Paget."Aachen is a hard place to do well.
"There was a huge amount of pressure with a very tough [cross country] course and the time wasn't achievable today but they all went out there and rode really competitively.
They took a lot of risks, rode skilfully and got the job done. To have four New Zealanders in the top 10 at Aachen is amazing and to win double gold too."
