Equestrian: Hot form offers solace

Kate Lambie, having missed selection for the New Zealand three-day event team at the World Equestrian Games, rode into individual medal contention with a personal best dressage performance at Jerez in Spain yesterday.

After the first day's dressage Lambie, 27, and her little mare Nufarm Alibi, were lying fourth on 34.40 points. With the second 40 riders to complete their tests early today, Lambie should start the endurance phase in touch with the leaders.

Lambie, having finished fifth on Nufarm Alibi at Badminton in England in May, was disappointed that she was the New Zealand rider to miss out on selection for the four-strong national team at Jerez.

"It took me a while to get over it, but when I thought about it, it's an amazing opportunity to be here and as an individual I have a great chance," she said.

"I can understand; I have come a long way in a short space of time and the others have been around longer than me."

She was in good company when it came to outperforming team riders, as Phillip Dutton - not selected for the Australian team - led the field on the first day after scoring 33.60 on 10-year-old House Doctor.

- NZPA