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Riders head to world university equestrian games

Thursday 16 August 2012, 1:05PM

By Massey University

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The Manawatu equestrian community turned out at the Rongotea Hall last night to support and farewell Massey equestrians Helen Bruce and Chloe Akers as they start their World University Equestrian Championship campaign.

The pair will compete against 30 other nations at the mecca of showjumping, the Aachen arena in Germany.
Massey equine programme leader Dr Chris Rogers says the World University Equestrian Games, from August 22-26, is a competition that tests horsemanship at the highest level with riders expected to compete at Prix St George level dressage and 1.40m show jumping.

“Most riders would be happy to achieve this level in either discipline, let alone be skilled enough to compete internationally at such a level in both dressage and show jumping.”

Massey riders dominate the New Zealand university games team, with Ms Akers and Ms Bruce joined by Rachael Bentall of Auckland University. The first reserve is Massey’s Jessica Woods.

“The stranglehold Massey University students have on the national young rider and university equestrian teams is not surprising given the support they receive through the Academy of Sport and Team Massey programmes,” Dr Rogers says.