Equestrian: Nicholson sets new record

Andrew Nicholson. Picture / Reuters

BADMINTON, England - New Zealander Andrew Nicholson today broke the record for the highest number of Badminton horse trial completions, but fell just short of a top three finish.

British-based Nicholson, 43, completed his 23rd Badminton with a clear showjumping round on Lord Killinghurst to finish fourth on 52 penalty points.

Winning the prestigious four-day event for the third time was Olympic multi-medallist Pippa Funnell on Primmore's Pride with 44.5 points, followed by fellow Briton and defending champion William Fox-Pitt on Tamarillo (46.1) and Olympic gold medallist Andrew Hoy, of Australia, on Master Monarch (51.7).

Nicholson said afterwards that breaking the Badminton record, previously shared with retired British rider Lorna Clarke, was not a big deal for him.

"Probably in a year or two I'll look back and think it was quite an achievement, but I come to these things expecting myself to do well and just to complete it isn't an achievement," he told NZPA.

The record aside, a smiling Nicholson said he was "in tears" following the clear round of Lord Killinghurst, the bay gelding on whom he finished second in the west England event last year.

But he was disappointed that his second mount, Fenicio, was eliminated at the final veterinary inspection before the showjumping round.

The British-based rider said Fenicio, who had been sitting in ninth place, had an on-going hind leg joint problem. This didn't normally affect his performance "but they decided he wasn't 100 per cent sound and chucked him out".

Funnell, who took the 2003 grandslam by winning the Lexington, Badminton and Burghley events, said afterwards that she felt the pressure as she entered the arena knowing she couldn't score any faults to retain the lead she had held since day one.

"It was almost as much pressure as the grandslam but I got through that and you learn to just shut everything out of your mind except what's ahead of you and what you've got to do."

She said there was also the burden of riding a horse of such high quality as Primmore's Pride.

"He's the most fantastic jumper but that almost added more pressure again because if you have a fence down you feel stupid." The two other New Zealand riders to reach the showjumping phase did not have clear rounds.

Scotland-based Caroline Powell and Lenamore knocked down one jump to finish on 65.3 points, but faults by other riders pushed her up from 18th to 14th place.

"I'm pleased with his performance, it was just a bit annoying to have that one jump go down," she said.

Neil Spratt moved down the leaderboard from 16th to 25th place after Haka clocked up four jump faults to finish on 76.6 points.

Spratt, who moved to the UK four years ago, said Haka was tired going into the phase and he probably pushed him too hard: "But I would have kicked myself if I had buttoned him off and then got time faults."

New Zealand results (rider, horse, points, place): Andrew Nicholson, Lord Killinghurst, 52, 4; Caroline Powell, Lenamore, 65.3, 14; Neil Spratt, Haka, 76.6, 25.

- NZPA