Cross country day in Aachen is aways a total rollercoaster of emotions, a race against time and a series of ups and downs and over the years we have experienced the entire gamut!
In 2018 it all came together for us when Germany lost a key rider in the late stages of the competition and in 2025 the competition began at 9.55 am CET with the first rotation of team riders. As always it gave a slightly false impression of the way the competition would go as there were a lot of clear rounds and no-one near the time. But traditionally nations send their strong XC combinations out as pathfinders so it is usually a false indication and so it proved today.
Clarke Johnstone and Rocketman (Rocco) did a sterling job to come home clear with 8.4 time for eventual 9th spot, Monica Spencer and Artist (Max) used all of the thoroughbred breeding advantage to scorch around for just 1 second over which was the fastest round of the day and slotted her back up into eventual 6th after dropping down to 19th with the two rails she picked up on Friday evening.
Jonelle and Hiarado (Jools) were next out and having changed her usual cross country day prep by having a solid jump session at 8.30 in the morning with Jock Paget the hope was that Jools would be concentrating from the get go. They stormed out of the start box meaning business and it’s not easy looking pretty perfect when you are going flat out but Jonelle and Jools did just that. Jools is so honest in the way she looks for the flags and she and Jonelle looked to be back to their absolute best as they nailed a solid clear with 6.8 time for eventual 10th slot.
Sam Lissington and Lord Seekonig (Charlie) went out as our third rotation rider and she did a great job with her first senior team call up. It was a super round apart from a bit of a free ride into the upright at the water in the main arena which triggered a pin for an additional 11 penalties. You cannot appeal a pin so it was there to stay and combined with her 10 time added another 17 to her score which dropped her just outside the top 20.
Jock was delighted to be able to tell Tim that we had a podium finish in hand before he started which was a luxury Tim has never had before as anchor man. Normally it either all rests with him or the team is gone before he starts!
The last 12 horses at Aachen run in reverse order and that is where it can unravel as so much more is at stake. Three of the British team riders were in the last rotation so were were not sure if we would finish in Bronze or Silver but when Germany’s final rider had an early 20 they were forced to count Calvin Bockman’s score which had accrued some 16 time faults. Then Laura Collet and Dacapo had an uncharacteristic run out at the corner in the water and Bubby Upton and Cannavaro picked up 20 penalties as well. I would like to say at this point that we were the ultimate good sports and exchanged quiet looks of satisfaction but we didn’t, we jumped up and down and screamed as suddenly Gold was on the cards for the team and if Tim came home good then the chance for him to win as well.
And Tim and Vitali showed all of their class and experience to simply blitz around the track to come home with just 3.2 time and to win double gold. Vitali hasn’t been to Aachen before and it usually takes horses a couple of trips to get the vibe but 6 mins 35 must have seemed a breeze after all his Badminton’s and Burghley’s and I dont know who was more proud as they did a lap in the main arena, Tim or Vitali.
The crowd adored the right to the wire last horse to go “will they win’ scenario and I have never seen such huge crowds out on the course at Aachen. It bodes very well for Team NZ at the World Champs there next year, knowing we go in on a win.
Tim is the first Kiwi to win since Andrew Nicholson in 2010 and his name will be on the roll of honour on the pillars by the main arena for ever. It’s a fabulous win for the team at our first gig since Paris and if Jonelle was gutted to be the individual she never showed a hint of it and was the best support to the team she could be.
There really is nothing that beats that winning feeling!
