Equestrian: Day to remember in Badminton debut

For a few glorious moments, New Zealander Kate Lambie and her little mare Nufarm Alibi led the field on their debut at the Badminton horse trials in England yesterday.

Lambie, 27, and Nufarm Alibi performed like veterans in the dressage to end the day in fourth place with a score of 44.60.

The pair, winners of the three-day event at Puhinui last December, are among a big contingent of New Zealanders at the trials who are hoping to win a place in the team for the World Equestrian Games at Jerez in Spain in September.

Andrew Nicholson on New York was the next best-placed New Zealander in eighth place on 47.81.

Lambie credited New Zealand team trainer Mark Todd, who won the Badminton event three times, for the accuracy of her performance yesterday.

She turned to Todd this week after things were not going well with her mount.

Lambie and Nufarm Alibi trailed three combinations, headed by Australian Olympic team gold medallist Andrew Hoy on Darien Powers.

One of the strong French contingent, Expo du Moulin, ridden by Arnaud Boiteau, a former pupil of Nicholson's, did a fine test to lie second.

Lambie is determined not to let the significance of the event, regarded as the unofficial world championship of eventing, overcome her. "I am taking each step as it comes and pretending it's just a normal event."

Looking ahead to the endurance phase at the weekend, Lambie said: "I have to go out there and prove myself. I am going to give it my best shot."

Lambie has had one walk around the formidable cross-country course. First impressions were that "everything looks very jumpable".

She said the track was big, bold and included some very technical fences. Her next task was to walk it in detail with Todd, drawing from his experience.

Neil Spratt, another first-time New Zealander at Badminton, on Deveron, was the last of the day's riders. He completed a workmanlike test to finish on 52.40 and 14th place.

Olympic team member Paul O'Brien had a disappointing test on Enzed on 62.21 and Joe Meyer and Southern Star recorded 69.

Leading results after the first day's dressage. -

Andrew Hoy (Australia) Darien Powers, 37.61 points, 1; Arnaud Boiteau (France) Expo du Moulin, 39.80, 2; Polly Stockton (Britain) Eyespy II, 42.60, 3; Kate Lambie (NZ) Nufarm Alibi, 44.60, 4; Heidi Antikatzides (Greece) Michaelmas, 45, 5.

Other New Zealand scores: Andrew Nicholson on New York, 47.81, 8; Neil Spratt on Deveron, 52.40, 14; Paul O'Brien on Enzed, 62.21, 31; Joe Meyer on Southern Star, 69, 39.

- NZPA