Bruce Goodin has been named as New Zealand’s sole showjumper at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in France this month. While the Denmark based jumper is a veteran of four Olympic Games, he’s on début for a world champs, and that makes it all very exciting for the 44-year-old, who originally hails from Te Kauwhata. His 11-year-old grey mare Centina 10 (owned by Glen and Kartni Neilsen) has had a fairly rapid rise to the top, but Goodin says she has plenty of potential and the best is yet to come. “It means a lot to be selected for WEG,” says Goodin. “At WEG you have every nation represented and I think there will be riders from more than 54 nations this year.”Goodin and Centina have been consistent in their efforts at the top of the showjumping world in grand prix classes, with a great win in the CSI3* 1.5m class in Frankfurt in December. “I didn’t really start to show Centina until October and she had only done a couple of 1.45m classes before that, so she has had to step up pretty quickly.” The two had to get used to each other too.It hasn’t been without its challenges, as Goodin also has teaching commitments that take weeks out of his riding schedule. Centino comes from a very well performed showjumping line. She is by Cento, who was Otto Becker’s world cup winner and two time Olympic horse. “She is very sensitive but really tries her heart out in the ring.” Goodin rode for New Zealand at the Olympic Games in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2008.A year ago, Goodin moved to Næstved, in Denmark, with his Swedish wife Ulrika and nearly three-year-old daughter Elizabeth. Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance director Sarah Harris describes Goodin as a well-deserved selection for ESNZ Jumping. “I have every confidence he will do well at the worlds,” she says. “We have seen Bruce and Centina get stronger and stronger this season as their partnership grows.” The combination are also seen as an exciting prospect for the Rio Olympics in 2016. Goodin is the last to be named in the New Zealand team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014. New Zealand will also be represented by teams in eventing, endurance and vaulting, along with individuals in the para-dressage and showjumping.
Bruce Goodin has been named as New Zealand’s sole showjumper at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in France this month. While the Denmark based jumper is a veteran of four Olympic Games, he’s on début for a world champs, and that makes it all very exciting for the 44-year-old, who originally hails from Te Kauwhata. His 11-year-old grey mare Centina 10 (owned by Glen and Kartni Neilsen) has had a fairly rapid rise to the top, but Goodin says she has plenty of potential and the best is yet to come. “It means a lot to be selected for WEG,” says Goodin. “At WEG you have every nation represented and I think there will be riders from more than 54 nations this year.”Goodin and Centina have been consistent in their efforts at the top of the showjumping world in grand prix classes, with a great win in the CSI3* 1.5m class in Frankfurt in December. “I didn’t really start to show Centina until October and she had only done a couple of 1.45m classes before that, so she has had to step up pretty quickly.” The two had to get used to each other too.It hasn’t been without its challenges, as Goodin also has teaching commitments that take weeks out of his riding schedule. Centino comes from a very well performed showjumping line. She is by Cento, who was Otto Becker’s world cup winner and two time Olympic horse. “She is very sensitive but really tries her heart out in the ring.” Goodin rode for New Zealand at the Olympic Games in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2008.A year ago, Goodin moved to Næstved, in Denmark, with his Swedish wife Ulrika and nearly three-year-old daughter Elizabeth. Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance director Sarah Harris describes Goodin as a well-deserved selection for ESNZ Jumping. “I have every confidence he will do well at the worlds,” she says. “We have seen Bruce and Centina get stronger and stronger this season as their partnership grows.” The combination are also seen as an exciting prospect for the Rio Olympics in 2016. Goodin is the last to be named in the New Zealand team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014. New Zealand will also be represented by teams in eventing, endurance and vaulting, along with individuals in the para-dressage and showjumping.