Equestrian: Cross-country an early test for Kiwi

BADMINTON - Noted trailblazer Andrew Nicholson will pay the Badminton cross-country course due respect when he is among the first to tackle it tomorrow.

Nicholson, lying second after the first day's dressage yesterday, has often found himself in a trailblazing role at top international events - whether competing as an individual or for the New Zealand team.

He and Mr Smiffy will be the fourth of the 81 entries to start Badminton's formidable cross-country course.

Riders' first impressions are that the sterner jumping tests would kick in from the 11th fence to the 25th and 26th tests at the lake, and then the "Beaufort Staircase" would be relentlessly big towards the end of the 31 fences.

Nicholson felt the course was as big and challenging as ever, and he would "take a few tiki-tours" to avoid some of the more hazardous, time-saving routes over fences.

While the going was good, there were two stretches that were always very wet.

"You cross them twice, usually at one minute and five minutes. This year they are at four minutes and eight minutes, and will be very tiring on the horses," he said.

With no Olympics or world championships this year, the pressure on the sport's elite horses and riders is greater than ever to win the prized Badminton title.

Nicholson's best performance in 15 years of competing at Badminton was fifth on New York in 1999. His 2000 Burghley champion, Mr Smiffy, was eighth last year after lying 38th in the dressage.

Although the second half of the dressage today is expected to change the leaderboard, Mr Smiffy's dressage performance yesterday was a potential springboard to higher honours.

He picked up just 44.8 penalty points - 3.2 behind first-day leader Piia Pantsu, last year's world championship bronze medallist from Finland, on Ypaja Karuso.



Usually Mr Smiffy is kept at home by owner Paul Davies, but this year Nicholson kept the horse for two weeks before Badminton and this helped form more of a partnership.

Taranaki's Heelan Tompkins finished the first day in 20th place on 57.6 points with Glengarrick.

"I was happy with the horse, but disappointed with the marks," she said.

"However, my preparation for the cross-country day has been fine, and although the course is big, tough and scary, I'm sure it will be better after I've walked it with Blyth Tait tomorrow."

Fellow New Zealander Dan Jocelyn had a disappointing ride on Pee Wee, ending the first day 30th, on 67.2.

- NZPA