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Marlborough's New Zealand Olympians aiming for two eventing medals

Sarah Dalziell-Clout, New Zealand's Director of High PerformanceSarah Dalziell-Clout, New Zealand's Director of High PerformanceNew Zealand's eventing squad for the Rio Olympics - four of its five members travelling to Brazil are based in the Marlborough area - are aiming to win two medals at the Games.

This week Sarah Dalziell-Clout, high performance director of Equestrian Sport New Zealand joined team members at their training camp near Chepstow.  

She arrived from New Zealand three weeks ago - just in time to attend the Barbury International Horse Trials: "They showed me the gallops there - they're wonderful. And I loved the trials - it's such a great setting in that bowl in the hills."

Sarah told Marlborough.News that they have been upfront about their ambition to achieve one team and one individual medal:  "Our team has pretty incredible depth in riders and horses. You always need luck on your side on the day - making sure the horses are sound."

"Now I just want to wrap the horses in cotton wool, but they have to keep training."

And they were still training this week. 

Team member Sir Mark Todd - who brings to the team the experience of preparing for nine Olympic Games - was warming up and then completing a full dressage test [see photos below].  He and Leonidas II were watched by coach Erik Duvander and other members of the team.

Minal's Jonelle Price told Marlborough.News she has a good preparation for the Games with her 11-year old dapple grey Faerie Dianimo.  Known in the yard as Maggie May, she is a feisty mare - in Jonelle's words 'an opinionated athlete': "A couple more gallops and then we're off."

Mr and Mrs Price watching the training sessionMr and Mrs Price watching the training sessionJonelle and Maggie May had finished seventh at the previous week's Aachen 3* competition.  After their dressage test they were in second place and added just eight show jumping faults and 6.80 time penalties in the cross country.

"To get to the Olympics is why I do this sport," Jonelle told me. "Within eventing the World Equestrian Games are held in the same regard. Outside the fraternity the Olympics are recognised by the whole world. Any sporting person's dream is to get to the Olympics."

Jonelle's husband Tim is the squad's travelling reserve: "He's on a bit of a holiday as things are.  But he has to be ready until the trot up" - when the horses are checked to make sure they are fit to compete.

The Rio Games may be a watershed for eventing.  The International Olympic Committee (IOC) want more gender equality and more teams at the Tokyo Games in 2020.  Sarah Dalziell-Clout says eventing scores well on the gender front, but getting more teams into the competition may mean some 'dumbing down'.

Talks are going on between the national organisations and the International Equestrian Federation (known as the FEI) and negotiations with the IOC will follow: "We could end up with the Olympics not being the sport's pinnacle.  They have to be careful not to lose the Olympics premier position to the World Equestrian Games."

Sir Mark Todd relaxing after his dressage testSir Mark Todd relaxing after his dressage test Sir Mark & Leonidas...Sir Mark & Leonidas... ...it was nearly as hot as Brazil....it was nearly as hot as Brazil.

After the training: Sir Mark listens to the coachesAfter the training: Sir Mark listens to the coaches

The New Zealand team's horses and their grooms fly out to Rio on July 29 - with a twelve hour flight ahead of them.  The riders and the rest the team follow the next day.

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