Andrew Nicholson (Nereo), Caroline Powell (Lenamore), Jock Paget (Clifton Promise), Jonelle Richards (Flintstar) and Mark Todd (NZB Campino) joined by Eventing High Performance Team Coach Erik Duvander. Lucy Jackson, the reserve, was not present.
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What is most striking about the New Zealand 2012 Olympic Eventing Team, apart from the blatant talent of course, is the genuine camaraderie between them all – the press conference was a laid back and fun affair, with lots of gentle teasing of each other by all the riders and the mood was definitely optimistic and upbeat, but for acknowledging Clarke Johnstone’s hard luck in Orient Express’ recent injury and therefore the reason for him not being there also. They all however agree that Jonelle Richards is a good substitute and has plenty to contribute to the Team.
Erik told us that Clarke withdrew his horse from Team consideration after Barbury, “and having Jonelle to step in there, the horse having been well-prepared by herself and Mark’s been helping her recently, we feel pretty confident that she’ll fill that spot very well.” Jonelle told us although she has faith in her horse and their ability as a partnership to add value to the team, it was still a shock to get the phone call from Erik, “I was pretty speechless for a few minutes which doesn’t happen very often! It’s still sinking in really. Obviously I knew I had a chance, and I’ve had a good lead-up and been fairly consistent over the last 18 months , but you never know until that phone call, and I was pretty happy to get the nod.”
Andrew confirmed his confidence in the team, “I think it looks very good for the Olympics, I think my horses are going very, very well and I’m very pleased to have them in the form they’re in at the moment. I think New Zealand has got a very strong team and will have a real live chance of medals at the Olympics and I’m looking forward to it.” Andrew added that he considered the Germans to be a big threat, “they’re very good now at all three phases and they’ve got a very good bunch of horses and riders”.
Mark Todd agreed that although Michael Jung is considered the main threat, “We all think he’s beatable – so long as the dressage judges don’t get carried away with the fact that he’s in the arena!” Mark admitted that when he was competing at the Los Angeles Olympics he never dreamed he’d still be competing at this level at London, and I caught up with him briefly afterwards for a quick word.
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Jonelle talked about getting up in the middle of the night at home in New Zealand to watch Mark and Andrew ride in Olympics all over the world on the tv, “It’s quite surreal. If they’d been normal and retired when they should have we wouldn’t be here with them now, but they just seem to keep going and it’s an honour and a privilege and something I never thought I’d be able to do, to get to ride on a team with them.” I asked Caroline and Jock what their reaction was when they found out they’d made the Olympic Team.
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Andrew is one of several competitors who has talked about relishing the opportunity to really be in the heart of the Games, staying in the Village and mixing with all the other athletes and embracing the Olympic atmosphere, “I should think we’ll be going to every Ceremony that’s going!” He heads off to Aachen, by virtue of an owner’s private jet on Wednesday, with Nereo, which he said seemed like a good idea at the time, “but now that it’s getting nearer I’m not so sure!” All joking aside, life will go on pretty much as normal as possible, “I’ve always made my plans well in advance and then tried my best to stick to them. I think Aachen is a good place to go before the Olympic Games. Hopefully he’ll come through that fine and then I have Gatcombe with a couple of the other horses, I’m used to competing a lot so I think I”m better out competing than just preparing, preparing, preparing.”
Caroline Powell told us Lenamore doesn’t really need to much more cross country, that she’ll just focus on working at home with him. Jock is taking Bullet Proof to Aachen, and will do a Combined Training Test with Promise and Lush at Gatcombe. Jonelle has a “Slightly unique build-up at the moment as I suffered a slight set-back and sprained my wrist about ten days ago, so I’ve been out of the saddle and Mark’s been training my horse. He’s actually going to go to Aachen and do the first two phases with Mark; we’ve been working together this year and it’s been going well, the horse has really improved in the dressage which has been his weakness in the past.” Mark joked, “Jonelle is actually worried that if he does a good dressage and jumps clear in the show-jumping I might actually run him cross country!” “I think he probably would,” Andrew added laughing. Mark said he was so happy with Campino that he decided not to run him again after all, “He’ll just continue training towards London now, and my reserve horse Grass Valley goes to Aachen, and it’s basically business as usual.”
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Many congratulations to the Team, and thanks to everybody for talking to me this morning. You can hear additional interviews with Jonelle and get to know a bit more about her and Flintstar on this week’s Eventing Radio Show out on Thursday, as well as a brief conversation with Jock Paget, Boyd Martin and Will Coleman, news on the Irish Olympic team including an interview with a team member, Barbury and much more! Go Olympic Eventing, I officially have London 2012 fever, and Go Eventing Nation!
