The Paris Olympics 2024 eventing qualification hunt will warmth up within the Netherlands this week, as riders plan their seasons across the Video games.
Tom McEwen and David Doel are among the many British riders who’ve made the journey to Kronenburg, whereas different rivals embrace New Zealand’s Tim Value, France’s Astier Nicolas and Australia’s Chris Burton.
To be eligible to compete at Paris 2024, combos will need to have a qualifying outcome at both a CCI5* or a CCI4*-L and a CCI4*-S between 1 January 2023 and 24 June 2024. As well as, pairs want a qualifying outcome at any CCI5*, CCI4*-L or CCI4*-S between 1 January 2024 and 24 June 2024 (the “affirmation outcome”).
Horses who’ve missed half or all of 2023 by means of damage are due to this fact more likely to be in search of three four-star qualifying outcomes this spring. Tim Value’s 2022 Maryland 5 Star winner Coup De Coeur Dudevin is one in every of these horses and is entered to start out within the CCI4*-L this week at Kronenburg. Tim’s world double bronze medallist Falco, who missed the again finish of final 12 months after having a tumour eliminated, has one CCI4*-S qualification from Millstreet final 12 months already underneath his belt. He’s additionally within the Kronenburg CCI4*-L line-up.
Astier Nicolas’ double Blair Citadel Horse Trials CCI4*-S winner Babylon De Gamma solely did one worldwide final 12 months, gaining a CCI4*-S qualification at Lignières within the autumn, and can tackle the CCI4*-L at Kronenburg.
Tom McEwen’s journey JL Dublin and David Doel’s Galileo Nieuwmoed each had podium finishes at five-star final 12 months, so that they solely want their “affirmation outcome” to tick the formal qualification field for Paris. Each will search this within the CCI4*-S at Kronenburg. Tom additionally has CHF Cooliser on this class, an thrilling return to competitors for this mare, who sat out most of final 12 months.
Different British entries within the CCI4*-S embrace 2022 Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star runners-up Kirsty Chabert and Basic VI, Bubby Upton (who continues her comeback from severe damage with Cola and Magic Roundabout) and up-and-coming rider Georgia Bartlett with Spano De Nazca.
New Zealand’s Caroline Powell will search her Paris affirmation outcome within the CCI4*-S with Greenacres Particular Cavalier, who was sixth at Maryland 5 Star final 12 months. Others who will intention to achieve their affirmation outcome on this class embrace Belgium’s Karin Donckers, along with her skilled 19-year-old Fletcha Van’t Verahof, and her compatriot Lara de Liedekerke-Meier on final 12 months’s Boekelo runner-up Ducati D’Arville.
New – and reunited – combos additionally need to tick all of the qualification bins over the subsequent few months. Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa will begin his worldwide marketing campaign in Kronenburg with the former Pippa Funnell journey MGH Grafton Road. And whereas publicity round Chris Burton’s return to eventing and assault on the Australian crew has been centred round him taking up Ben Hobday’s Shadow Man, he’s additionally quietly again using Intelligent Louis, who has been piloted by Jonelle Value and Bubby Upton since Chris stopped eventing in 2021. Chris and Intelligent Louis are entered within the CCI4*-S at Kronenburg.
Australia’s Invoice Levett bagged an early Olympic qualification final weekend when he took the CCI4*-L at Montelibretti in Italy on Sligo Sweet Cane.
You may additionally be fascinated by:
Credit score: Future
Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is filled with all the most recent information and experiences, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can take pleasure in the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and experiences in addition to different advantages.