Johnston World Cup Eventing Champ

Clarke Johnstone is the new-crowned FEI World Cup Series champion.

The 24-year-old UK based eventer from the Waikato is the first to Kiwi to win the prestigious series. This morning (Monday NZ time) he finished sixth at Le Grand Complete in France, the seventh and final round of the event, with Mark Todd (NZL) and NZB Campino eighth.

Johnstone, aboard Orient Express, finished four points clear of great mate Chris Burton (AUS) in the series points. Burton was this morning second on Newsprint and third on Holstein Park Leilani, but even a win would not have been enough to give him the title.

Just one of the 34 combinations to make it through to the showjumping went clear, with Johnstone taking three rails and Todd two.

Johnstone went into the showjumping knowing a clear round would give him a win in the final, but he says it wasn't Blue's (Orient Express) day.

“It was a very difficult track,” he said. “The ground was very hard, it was hot and he just didn't jump well.”
Johnstone, who was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the World Champs in Kentucky last year, ranks this as his most important win.

Going into the event he didn't think he could be beaten, but it was never a given until prize giving, where he was also presented a trophy as the youngest competitor.

The series victory is worth 30,000 Euro.

Meanwhile in Scotland at the Blair Castle International Horse Trials Andrew Nicholson won the CCI*** on Calico Joe, and finished fourth aboard Shady Grey.