Equestrian: Kiwi riders spurred by past failure

By EUGENE BINGHAM

Even without their horses, they were a formidable bunch.

On the eve of their quest for the Olympic equestrian title that has eluded them, New Zealand's three-day eventing dream team were in no mood for smiles.

They wrapped black shades around their faces to shield their eyes from the sun and adopted stern expressions to ward off anyone seeking to distract them from the task at hand.

Though Kiwi riders have dominated the three-day circuit for 16 years - pocketing a third of all the Olympic medals on offer - they have never stepped up on the dais as one wearing a team gold.

This time, they are determined to change that.

Yesterday, they walked the cross country course at Sydney's equestrian venue, Horsley Park - their first chance to inspect the terrain that could make or break them.

While Australia's double Olympic champion team were in a jovial mood, stopping and chatting to officials as they went around the course, the Fearsome Five - double gold medallist Mark Todd, defending individual champion Blyth Tait, former world champion Vaughn Jefferis, four-time Olympian Andrew Nicholson, and the up-and-comer, Paul O'Brien - were focused.

Not even the presence of mountain bikes on the course, a dress rehearsal for officials, distracted them.

Riders on two wheels whizzed around the course to test the judges and officials in advance of the competition. The Kiwis didn't care. They had a job to do.

All week, the eventing team has put up the barriers. The controversy over Mark Todd has probably given them a siege mentality. But there is also the determination to win.

The three-day competition begins with the dressage phase tomorrow. Two riders will compete then, and two on Sunday.

Today, selectors will announce which four riders and horses will enter the teams event.

It seems likely Tait will ride in the teams with Ready Teddy, sacrificing his chance of repeating their gold medal-winning performance at Atlanta four years ago.

The death in quarantine of his other top horse, Chesterfield, just before the horses departed for Australia limited the selectors' choices.

Then there was the withdrawal of Dan Jocelyn because of injury to his horse, Silence.

On top of the troubles over Todd, the horse troubles for Tait and Jocelyn have really tested the team.

Never before have there been so many obstacles to overcome.

Will they be smiling on Wednesday when the medals are handed out?

A world away from the pressure bearing down on the eventing team, New Zealand showjumper Bruce Goodin and his mount Lenaro warmed up in a quieter quarter of Horsley Park yesterday.

The Huntly-born, Belgium-based rider was in Atlanta as a coach, but qualified to compete with a solid international record this year.

Goodin and Peter Breakwell will compete in the showjumping during week two, with dressage specialist Kallista Field.