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IN SHORT
UNI TEAM WINS BRONZE AT WORLD EOUESTRIAN CHAMPS
TWO MASSEY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WERE PART
of the New Zealand team that won bronze at the
10th World University Equestrian Championships
held in Aachen, Germany in August.
More than 200 riders from 26 countries competed
on borrowed horses. This was the first time New
Zealand has sent a team to the biannual event.
The competition was run in a knockout style,
with the best of three riders progressing to the
next round in their pool.
During the riders’ ball it was announced that
the New Zealand team, then sitting in second
place, along with Germany and France had made
the final selection. The final team consisted of
Chloe Akers (Opiki), Helen Bruce (Feilding), and
Rachael Bentall (Hawke’s Bay), who competed
individually and as a team in dressage and show
jumping.
Akers is in her third year at Massey, studying a
Bachelor of Teaching (Primary School) internally.
She has represented New Zealand overseas many
times, competing in young rider show jumping
and equitation. She also won the inaugural New
Zealand Universities Championship in show
jumping.
Bruce graduated from Massey in May with
a degree in applied science, majoring in
agriculture. She regularly competes in eventing
and show jumping at a high level, while Bentall is
in her third year of at Auckland University.
“When we found out we had qualified to go into
the medal final, we couldn’t quite believe it,”
said Akers. “We were the new kids on the block
and the other 25 teams have been participating
in these student competitions all year, some
longer.”
In the medal final the teams started with a clean
slate and competed in group dressage and a
difficult jumping course.
Akers, who is used to riding borrowed horses,
said the dressage was the most challenging.
“The horses had to adapt to three different
riders a day. Some of the dressage horses were
tired or stressed if they had already had already
been ridden twice”. Dressage coach and Grand
Prix rider Penny Castle was thrilled with their
performance in the dressage.
“The riders had just five minutes to warm up
inside the main arena and have never experienced
anything like this before. Both France and
Germany are seasoned campaigners at this type
of event.” The jumping was judged on style plus
any faults accumulated, and speed. Akers gained
the winning score, but Bruce and Bentall had a
few minor problems. Germany won with France
second.
Trainer John Cottle said New Zealand’s bronze
was “beyond” their expectations.
“It’s the first time New Zealand has had a team at
the championships and they’ve done brilliantly.
This is out of season for us, and their efforts are
a real credit to the work they have put in over the
winter months.” Bruce said receiving a medal was
amazing. “I wish I could bottle that feeling!” She
expressed her gratitude to her team members,
and their coaches.
Other events the riders attended included the
opening ceremony, an Aachen town tour, and a
meeting with the mayor. Yvette Morrisey
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