Equestrian: Nicholson oozes class

LONDON - New Zealand equestrian Andrew Nicholson emerged from the shadows of Blyth Tait and Mark Todd yesterday to become a frontrunner for the coveted Badminton three-day eventing title.

Nicholson had an almost faultless cross-country ride on New York to lie second at the end of the day, with only the showjumping remaining. British rider Mary King was 2.2 penalty points in front on Star Appeal.

Having won Burghley in 1995, Nicholson has in recent years often ended up supporting team-mates Todd and Tait.

"Hopefully, it will be the other way around this time," he said after the cross-country.

Tait withdrew when his mount, Chesterfield, fell at the sixth fence, badly winding him.

But Todd, riding for the last time at Badminton, was still in the hunt after a great cross-country on Eye Spy left him in fifth place.

"If I can get a top-10 finish I will be well-pleased," he said.

"This was absolutely no problem for [Eye Spy] around here. He was really mature in his attitude to the job and I think he could certainly go to Sydney [for the Olympics]."

But Nicholson stole the moment in front of a big crowd in sweltering heat to set up his best chance of winning the world's premier eventing title.

He produced a breathtaking ride on New York despite incurring two penalty time points.

He said it had been helpful to taste the course early in the day on his No 2 horse, Whit Monday, which finished 35th.

"New York was very good and he gave me a wonderful ride. Last year he had it all in the slosh and the mud, but this time the further I went the faster he got when I asked him to quicken the pace."

Nicholson said that while the thought of a Badminton win was enticing, the showjumping phase was New York's "trickiest bit."

At the end of the day, New Zealand had five riders in the top 20, with Nicholson second, Tait fifth, Paul O'Brien (Enzed) 13th, Joe Meyer (Jovial Sam) 15th and Caroline Powell (Dalliance) 18th.

- NZPA