Show Jump Challenge

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30562, 3 October 1964, Page 11

Show Jump Challenge

T>Y European standards the four top show jumping nations are Germany, United States, Britain, and Italy. Although Germany, winner of the gold medals in 1956 and 1960 has since lost two great horses in Halla and Meteor and one of the most experienced horsemen in Fritz Thiedemann it still has Hans Winkler and a host of young riders with international experience to rely on. The American team, always so uniform in appearance and with its excellent style of riding, must be the envy of many of the smaller competing nations like New Zealand as its financial resources seem unlimited. The Italians have shown the best European form of any team so far, winning over some of the most formidable courses on the Continent The invincible D’lnzeo brothers will be sure to be at the top of the individual platings. Both the New Zealand and Australian teams have the disadvantage of a lack of experience in competing against the world's top riders. This puts them under added strain in a competition of this type where nervous tension is at its peak. But New Zealand can be justly proud of its representatives, who have proved most convincingly their ability jumping replicas of courses which have caused trouble overseas.