Equestrian: Promising Price takes early lead

By DAVE WORSLEY

Dressage may not be the most exciting discipline of eventing, so when the first day of the three-star international three-day event began yesterday, crowds were light.

But it will be a different story today at Puhinui, Manukau, as the riders tackle a reasonably challenging cross-country course in the Auckland Airport International/Regency-sponsored event.

The cross-country is always a crowd-puller. The course is expected to have some give in it after rain, which should remove the severe hardness of the ground.

Tim Price, a fulltime rider from South Canterbury, leads the competition with 40.2 penalties. He is potentially a candidate for future Olympic selection.

Price is already a member of the New Zealand pre-elite squad and, riding Desamoray, looked reasonably assured, with the experience of winning the two-star event last year clearly showing.

Second is Australian Claudia Graham on Diamond B Vogue with 40.8 penalties.

There is a big drop to Te Awamutu student Kelly North, riding Smooch, who incurred 47.4 penalties.

Australian favourite Tim Boland sits in fourth and fifth spots. He has Kildonan in fourth on 49.2, followed by Limitless on 49.6.

Kiwi hope Matthew Grayling on Klinsmann is in 12th place after a performance in which the horse reared its head slightly at an inopportune time.

Shortly after Grayling's ride, the heavens opened and made the dressage an unpleasant experience for riders and horses.

In the two-star competition, Danielle Nixon is dominating after riding into first and second places on her two horses.

Nixon, from Whitford, is on 48 points on Yosemite and 56 points riding Fleetsin.

Te Kawhata's Donna Smith is third on 56.6.

National selectors Mary Darby and Glen Beale are on hand to assess the dressage and they will be left wanting more out of the riders.

In big international competitions, riders look at points penalties in the low 30s. At Puhinui the best rider finished the dressage on 40.2.

The lack of good scores was an indication of where New Zealand riders have in the past found themselves wanting against international competition.

The event continues today with the cross-country, starting at 8.30am with the two star riders. The event finishes tomorrow with the showjumping phase.