We continue our series on Otago's Olympians. Today sports reporter Adrian Seconi talks to former Outram rider Clarke Johnstone.
Adrian Seconi: After the disappointment you went through four years ago, selection must have come as a huge relief. How did the good news feel?
Clarke Johnstone: Selection was a huge relief but even after the team was announced there are still four weeks to keep the horse fit and sound, so it is still a stressful time. It was really a fantastic feeling to be named on such a strong New Zealand team.
AS: When you catch yourself day-dreaming about the Olympics, are you standing on top of the podium? How do you feel about New Zealand's prospects?
CJ: Absolutely standing on the top of the podium! I think we have a really strong chance for a team and individual medal. The Germans have had a stranglehold on gold medals at championships for the last decade, so we will be working very hard to make sure that doesn't happen again.
AS: Aside from competing on the world stage, what are you looking forward to the most about the Rio Olympics?
CJ: I can't wait to experience the [Olympic] Village and enjoy watching the other sports after the end of our competition. I am quite lucky that the eventing is in the first five days of the Games, so there will be time afterwards to be a spectator. Also the free food in the Village.
AS: Does Balmoral Sensation (A. K. A ‘Ritchie') have any interesting personality quirks?
CJ: Ritchie is a real champion. He is very good at his job and is nice to handle as well. His personality is not really quirky unless he gets excited by seeing other horses or animals galloping. Then he can be a bit of a handful.
AS: Do you have to bring the horse a hot cup of oats in the morning before it will do anything? I imagine he just keeps going and going rather like that other Richie, right?
CJ: He does keep going and going like his namesake! It is really demanding on horses, flying them from the southern hemisphere to the north and then going to high level events like Badminton and the Olympics. But he has so far not missed a beat. Let's hope that continues. And he's actually not really keen on breakfast, he prefers a big dinner.
AS: I guess Germany shapes as a strong competitor, as well as Britain and France and those Australians. Is that how you see it?
CJ: Yes, they are the ones to watch. And us, of course.
AS: And what about the individual competition? Who is shaping as medal prospects?
CJ: I would say there are probably as many as 20 realistic individual medal prospects. There are a lot of competitors with great horses performing really well at the moment. Current world champion Sandra Auffarth from Germany and Michael Jung, also from Germany, are probably the favourites.
AS: How much of a factor will Brazil's climate be?
CJ: If it gets into the 30s [degC] the temp will play a major factor in the competition. [For] some horses it will be an advantage, for and others not so. I think Ritchie should cope with the heat fine.
AS: The travel must take a toll. How does Ritchie cope?
CJ: I would say he will have travelled as much as any horse going to the Games for eventing and he takes it all in his stride pretty well. He is a relaxed traveller, so that helps. It is a lot easier going from England to Rio than New Zealand to England like he did earlier in the year.
AS: Is luck a factor?
CJ: It is to an extent. If you haven't ticked all the boxes in the preparation then it doesn't matter how lucky you are, you're not going to win. But there are so, so many variables in our sport that you do need things to go your way sometimes.
AS: Will you be bringing that gold medal back to Outram for a tour?
CJ: Of course!
