Equestrian: Price's Puhinui win saves NZ honour

8.00pm - by DAVE WORSLEY

The national selectors will probably feel a little more relaxed after the final day of the three-day equestrian event at Puhinui today.

Tim Price, from South Canterbury, came away with the three-star title but only after a reasonable showjumping round.

After Friday's dressage there looked to be a big gulf between New Zealand's up-and-coming riders and the rest of the world.

However, good performances in tough conditions on Saturday during the cross-country and today on a very technical and tight showjumping course made things a little brighter.

Nobody in the three star had a clear round in the showjumping, but Price on Desamoray did manage just two rails down and three time penalties for an overall total of 58.8 in the Auckland Airport/Regency-sponsored event.

He finished 7.4 points better off than rival Tim Boland of Australia, who was on his top horse, Limitless.

Boland, of New South Wales, was forced to withdraw his other horse, Kildonan Tug, on the morning of the showjumping as it was not fit enough.

Boland came close to catching Price by knocking down only one rail and scoring three penalty points, but Price's lead going into the final day meant only a near-catastrophic showjumping ride would have denied him the title.

Kelly North on Smooch finished third with two rails down and two time penalties for a total of 81.

She won the young rider of the year award.

North's mother, Kathy Otto, was a New Zealand rider in the 1970s and helped out her daughter as she competed over the weekend.

In the two-star section, overnight leader Danielle Nixon had a disastrous round, falling from first to 14th after her horse, Yosemite, knocked down seven rails for 28.

Yosemite appeared flat and may have had problems as a result of the trying conditions over the weekend.

The two star was won by Melanie Jane Blair riding Wee Perferido. The Waiuku rider had a clear round in the showjumping after starting today in third place.

Runner-up was Karen Teague, who gave birth to a daughter less than two months ago but managed to hold the second-place spot she started the day with.

Her horse, Mighty Heights, was ridden by Mark Todd in the New Zealand team in 2000.

The crowd seemed smaller than in the past and the event was again pelted with rain, off-putting for even the hardiest supporters.