Strong Dressage Performances Needed for Top Contenders

Sir Mark Todd is confident in the strength of the Kiwi eventing team at the Rio Olympics, New Zealand’s most capped Olympian told a press conference today.

“The competition is so strong that unless you kick off with a good dressage score, you are only playing catch-up,” said Todd. “Now everyone is very good at all (three) phases, and the dressage is important. One of our strengths is that we are a team of four horses who are all competitive in that phase.”

The plan is to post a 70%-plus score in the opening phase and stay clear for the cross country and show jumping.

“The standard of the teams if very strong this year. We will all be looking for over 70% - it is the minimum you need if you want to medal.”

The Kiwis are considered to be strong contenders for both individual and team medals, however there are a number of countries all well capable to top performances on the day.

Also at the press conference with Todd were his eventing team-mates Jock Paget and Clarke Johnstone, as well as New Zealand’s sole dressage representative, Julie Brougham, who at 62 is the nation’s oldest-ever Olympian.

As well as a strong New Zealand press corps, there were also others from the United States, Europe and, of course, Brazil, who were very interested to know how Todd rated their local team.

Brougham told the gathering she was a rather reluctant record-breaker.

“I have created a record and haven’t done anything,” she said. “It is quite amazing. I may be a little slow getting to my first Olympics but I haven’t had anything good enough before.”

As a judge in New Zealand she had cast her expert eye over Paget, who was sitting next to her at the press conference, while Tod said he was now riding against the children of his contemporaries.

First-time Olympian Clarke Johnstone was very excited to be on debut, and saying the younger riders in the team were lucky to ride alongside someone like Todd.

The eventing horses face their first horse inspection on Friday morning (UK time), followed by two days of dressage, cross country and then showjumping. Dressage competitors face their horse inspection on Monday, with competition in the Grand Prix starting two days later.

Sir Mark Todd is confident in the strength of the Kiwi eventing team at the Rio Olympics, New Zealand’s most capped Olympian told a press conference today.

“The competition is so strong that unless you kick off with a good dressage score, you are only playing catch-up,” said Todd. “Now everyone is very good at all (three) phases, and the dressage is important. One of our strengths is that we are a team of four horses who are all competitive in that phase.”

The plan is to post a 70%-plus score in the opening phase and stay clear for the cross country and show jumping.

“The standard of the teams if very strong this year. We will all be looking for over 70% - it is the minimum you need if you want to medal.”

The Kiwis are considered to be strong contenders for both individual and team medals, however there are a number of countries all well capable to top performances on the day.

Also at the press conference with Todd were his eventing team-mates Jock Paget and Clarke Johnstone, as well as New Zealand’s sole dressage representative, Julie Brougham, who at 62 is the nation’s oldest-ever Olympian.

As well as a strong New Zealand press corps, there were also others from the United States, Europe and, of course, Brazil, who were very interested to know how Todd rated their local team.

Brougham told the gathering she was a rather reluctant record-breaker.

“I have created a record and haven’t done anything,” she said. “It is quite amazing. I may be a little slow getting to my first Olympics but I haven’t had anything good enough before.”

As a judge in New Zealand she had cast her expert eye over Paget, who was sitting next to her at the press conference, while Tod said he was now riding against the children of his contemporaries.

First-time Olympian Clarke Johnstone was very excited to be on debut, and saying the younger riders in the team were lucky to ride alongside someone like Todd.

The eventing horses face their first horse inspection on Friday morning (UK time), followed by two days of dressage, cross country and then showjumping. Dressage competitors face their horse inspection on Monday, with competition in the Grand Prix starting two days later.