Equestrians short-changed

By ANNE BESTON and NZPA

Equestrian silver medallist Sally Clark says a few thousand dollars might have saved the New Zealand team from heartbreak.

The Manawatu-based rider, who won Silver at the 1996 Atlanta Games, was not wanted for Sydney.

She is angry the New Zealand selectors left reserve Heelan Tompkins, of New Plymouth, and her horse Glengarrick at home, and herself and Squirrel Hill off the list altogether.

"Selectors can't be perfect but the point is you've got one fit combination [Tompkins and Glengarrick] and one very experienced combination with a good recent track record [Clark and Squirrel Hill] sitting at home when they could have been in Sydney ready to go."

Clark said the return airfare for horse and rider to Sydney was $3000. She believes her 16-year-old gelding had the class to compete at these Olympics.

The New Zealand equestrian team were poised to win a medal when they were knocked out of contention after Blyth Tait's mount Ready Teddy failed a veterinary check just before the showjumping finale.

That left New Zealand without the three riders they needed to remain in the competition after Paul O'Brien's horse Enzed was a casualty following Monday's cross-country competition.

"I think some questions need answering," Clark said. "Why didn't the selectors improve our odds by increasing the numbers on the shortlist and taking them to Australia at minimal cost?"

Tomkins slammed the officials, who left her behind, and said she would have paid her own airfare if given the chance. She was named as a non-travelling reserve but was told last week she and Glengarrick would not be going to Sydney.

"There would have been no harm in spending the money to get me over there.

"They owed me that much for the preparation I put in," the New Plymouth rider said.

New Zealand could still bring home a gold and silver in the individual event but Tompkins said the chances of a medal would have been improved if she had been able to take up the third place left vacant by Andrew Nicholson.

His two mounts failed fitness tests, leaving Mark Todd and Tait as the only riders left with fit horses.

"If I'd been there, I could have slotted in, it would have increased our chances of a medal," the 22-year-old said.

Team veterinarian Wally Niederer said Nicholson's mount New York aggravated an old injury and the New Zealanders had run out of time to get him fit.

Responding to Clark's comments, Equestrian New Zealand chief secretary-general Larry Graham said the selectors believed they picked the right team.

"If we'd had an ounce of luck with our horses we wouldn't have people saying things like that."