From Weekly Times (dated August 30, 2010)

NEW Zealand has named one of the nation's strongest ever showjumping teams for next month's World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

And UK selectors have also announced their team.

The New Zeland team, announced last week by Equestrian Sports New Zealand, comprises Samantha McIntosh, riding Loxley 38, Katie McVean (Dunstan Delphi), Guy Thomas (Peterbilt) and Maurice Beatson (Apollo van Evendael).

NZ High Performance manager Richard Sunderland said: "Potentially this is the best team I have ever had anything to do with, and reflects the new direction the ESNZ High Performance Program has taken, to ensure that those selected have the ability to achieve the high targets set".

Beatson rode for NZ at the 1988 Olympics and 1994 World Games. Thomas rode at the 2004 Olympics and McVean the 2008 Olympics.

McIntosh competed at the Sydney 2000 Olympics for Bulgaria and is considered one of the most successful showjumping riders to have come out of NZ.

She also competed at world championships, a World Cup final and European championships and returned to NZ colours earlier this year.

The UK has named Scott Brash riding Intertoy Z, Tina Fletcher riding Hello Sailor, David McPherson riding Chamberlain Z and anchorman Michael Whitaker riding GIG Amai II as its four team riders.

The non-travelling reserve rider is Robert Smith.

UK jumping performance manager Rob Hoekstra said the team was "very much part of the development of the squad for 2012 and we have selected horses that have performed well in the 2010 Nations Cup events".

"It is an exciting team for the future and part of the road to London 2012."

Meanwhile, dressage queen and three-time Olympic gold medal-winning Dutch dressage rider Anky van Grunsven has been named as reserve rider in the Dutch reining team for the Games.

The jumping at the Games will be held on October 4-9.