Equestrian: Mixed day for NZers at Badminton

BADMINTON - New Zealand riders experienced both surprise and disappointment on the first day of the Badminton horse trials in England today.

Drawn to ride first, top equestrian Andrew Nicholson opened the four-day event riding Fenicio to finish the day eighth equal with Irish rider Eric Smiley and Macloud.

However, fellow New Zealander Joe Meyer had to withdraw his horse Snip after a leg injury flared up again.

With another day of dressage tomorrow for the second half of the field, Fenicio, on 54.8 penalty points, was sitting 6.1 points behind the leader and defending champion, William Fox-Pitt, on Ballincoola.

Second and third places were being held by Fox-Pitt's fellow Britons, Milla Healey on Zarzoo and Kitty Boggis on Five Boys, respectively.

Nicholson was pleasantly surprised with the performance of Fenicio, the less favoured of his two mounts for the event.

"Fenicio's improved no end recently," Nicholson told NZPA.

"I would have expected (the top horses) to be 10 points ahead of him so it shows how well he's improved."

England-based Nicholson, originally of Te Awamutu, said he felt he had been judged "very fairly" despite being first into the arena.

"Sometimes you do a bad test and get good marks just because you're first in the arena, and sometimes you do a good test and get bad marks because you're first.

"But these are knowledgeable judges and very fair. They would know what they are talking about."

Fellow New Zealander Neil Spratt and Haka were sitting 21st on 60.6 penalty points after the first day, while Scotland-based New Zealander Caroline Powell was immediately behind, scoring 61.3 penalty points on Lenamore to sit 22nd equal with American Will Faudree and Antigua.

Both Powell and Nicholson are back in the dressage arena tomorrow - Nicholson on his favoured mount Lord Killinghurst, on whom he finished second at Badminton last year - along with Jonelle Richards on Mazetto.

Nicholson was upbeat about Lord Killinghurst's prospects in the dressage.

"Lord Killinghurst will be up there with the leaders. He's got a smart head on him so I would expect him to be near the top."

- NZPA