New Zealand Triumphs in Equestrian Nations Cup with Historic Double Gold

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Tim Price and Vitali at CHIO Aachen in Germany. Photo: Libby Law

The New Zealand equestrian team has achieved a historic milestone by winning the Nations Cup for the second time in its history. Tim Price, a seasoned rider from New Zealand, secured both the individual and team gold medals at the prestigious CHIO Aachen event in Germany.

Four New Zealand riders finished in the top 10, with Price leading the way throughout all phases of the competition. His victory on Vitali was marked by a brilliant cross-country round, earning him 30.5 penalty points and his first individual victory at Aachen, one of the most challenging events on the global equestrian calendar.

Monica Spencer on Artist placed sixth with 37.2 penalty points, Clarke Johnstone on Rocket Man finished ninth with 40.8, and Jonelle Price on Hiarado came in 10th with 41.3. Samantha Lissington, the fifth team member, concluded the event in 22nd place on Lord Seekonig.

Great Britain was initially seen as the favorite to win, but New Zealand's strong performance allowed them to clinch victory by 8.7 penalty points. The United States secured second place, while Great Britain finished third.

Tim Price and Clarke Johnstone were part of the New Zealand team that won the Nations Cup in 2018, alongside Blyth Tait and Sir Mark Todd. That year, Price finished third in the individual standings and has since earned two fourth-place finishes at Aachen.

Monica Spencer and Artist, who traveled from their U.S. base for the event, delivered the fastest cross-country round with just 0.4 time penalties. All four New Zealand riders—Spencer, Johnstone, and the Prices—completed the showjumping phase with only time penalties, a critical factor in the team's success.

Tim Price expressed satisfaction with the showjumping performance, noting that it opened the door for victory. "He has always been a very good cross country horse and was super today. I am absolutely thrilled for the team," he said.

Jock Paget, the general manager of high performance at Equestrian Sports NZ, praised all five New Zealand combinations for their performance. Aachen was a key target for the year due to its significance as the host of the 2026 world championships.

"To pull it off in this way is amazing," Paget said. "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.

"Aachen to us is like our European championships—we don't have one but we treat it like that. It was the biggest target for us this year. There are Nations Cups and then there is Aachen. This was the pin in the map for us this year."

With this victory, New Zealand has once again proven its strength in international equestrian sports. The team's success at Aachen not only highlights the talent of its riders but also sets the stage for future achievements in the sport.