Equestrian: Nicholson rues his caution as controversy reigns

BADMINTON, England - New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson jumped two superb cross country rounds at the Badminton horse trials today, but regretted being over-cautious on his top mount Mr Smiffy.

Nicholson was lying fifth on Mr Smiffy and 12th on Fenicio with the show jumping to come and some protests to be sorted out, following the controversial removal of one fence before the last 12 horses started the cross country.

His ride on Mr Smiffy early in the day, before rain set in, made the course look easy with no hair raising moments.

"He was a tearaway and very wayward but now he's a real pleasure to ride," Nicholson said.

His 3.6 time penalties on the steeplechase and cross country cost him second position. Instead Mr Smiffy ended the day 14.4 points off the pace set by defending champions Pippa Funnell and Supreme Rock.

"It was my fault, I should have started a little stronger. The going is perfect and he could have got the time," he said after completing the round.

Fenicio incurred just 0.4 time penalty across country.

Taranaki's Heelan Tompkins and Glengarrick also had a neat round, but incurred time faults too.

"The first fence was close to the start and it took me two or three fences to get into things. By the first minute marker I was 10 seconds down and I just couldn't make it up," she said.

"I hadn't planned to go all the direct routes but he was awesome so I just let it happen."

Glengarrick is just 15.2hh, which is small for an event horse, even smaller than Mark Todd's mighty Charisma. The combination moved from 44th up to 18th after the endurance phase.

Former world and Olympic champion Blyth Tait was having such a super ride on Eze that he changed his mind about the Vicarage Vee in the middle stages of the cross country and opted for the direct route which was riding very well.

"I got my line wrong and his inexperience at this level showed when he ran out. It was pouring and my reins kept slipping," Tait said.

"One thing I didn't want for him was this type of conditions. He has a huge future and I haven't lost any faith in him. It's been a big learning curve for him and he'll be a lot better for this."

Eze dropped from 28th down to 45th with 20 penalties for the run out and 35.6 time faults.

New Zealander Dan Jocelyn's day started out well with a great round on Pee Wee -- one of only 10 to finish on their dressage score. Handicapped by their 66th placing after dressage they moved to 23rd.

All was going smoothly on his second ride, Silence, until Jocelyn fell into the water over the bounce at the lake and retired.

European champion Funnell on Supreme Rock goes into the final phase with three show jumping rails in hand over nearest rival Piia Pantsu of Finland.

But the ground jury's controversial decision to remove the 22nd fence, the Charisma Puzzle, from the competition after 66 competitors had attempted it impacted most on overnight second place holder Bettina Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo.

Their penalties for a refusal at the fence were waived, but not the 35 time penalties they incurred for going longer routes after having the problem.

Badminton director Hugh Thomas said that conditions during the day changed as stone dust was added to the landing over the first ditch which was the favoured route.

"For some reason the horses then couldn't differentiate where the edge of the ditch was and they couldn't understand what they had to jump," he said.

"Under international rules all competitors will have any jump penalties incurred there earlier in the day removed."

Three riders were taken to hospital, Vicky Brake with leg lacerations, Sweden's Anna Hasso with a suspected broken leg, and Karen Dixon with shoulder injuries. American rider Bruce Davidson also suffered a broken collar bone.

- NZPA