Equestrian: Star riders turn team coaches

By DAVE WORSLEY

When the three-day event begins at Puhinui in Manukau today, spectators may have difficulty finding names with a familiar ring to them. .

The star Olympians will be at the three-star competition - but not as riders. Three of New Zealand's most celebrated Olympic eventers will turn coaches for an informal teams event.

As part of the challenge to restore New Zealand equestrian to medal contention at major competitions, the sport's leaders have come up with a teams event that aims to give riders exposure and experience in a team format.

It also doubles as an opportunity for the selectors to get a close look at riders, with the Athens Olympics just two years away.

Mark Todd, Blyth Tait and Tinks Pottinger will each coach a mixed team of three-star New Zealand riders in the Auckland Airport/Regency-sponsored event, and there will be a Barbarians team comprising three Australian horses and a New Zealander as well.

The Barbarians include New South Wales rider Tim Boland on Kildonan Tug.

He is making his third visit to Puhinui and is one of the core group on the Australian eventing squad for this year's World Games.

The focus is taken off the individual competition even more with the three-star individual event missing two key New Zealand riders. Kate Lambie has a couple of young horses and is taking part in the two-star event. Heelan Tompkins' mount is injured. She is helping her sister Jean, who is in the two-star event that started yesterday.

One familiar name in the dressage today is national one-day champion, and three-star winner at Puhinui in 1994 and 1995, Matthew Grayling riding Klinsmann.

Grayling is also riding NRM Brown Bear, substituting for Catriona Williams, who is in the Burwood Spinal Unit after a bad fall.

The three-star course at Puhinui has been revamped, with several new fences.

Todd will lead a team selected from Brazilian-born Waikato dairy farmer Alex de luca Oliviera riding Clifton Classic, Huntly's Sarah Broughton on Money Train, Andrea McFarlane of Hamilton on Rocket Man, and Dannie Smyth from Bombay, riding Armada.

Tait's four-rider team will come from Jo Shepherd-da Silva from Kaitaia on Celtic; Donna Smith of Te Kauwhata riding Stanage; Clevedon's Kirsten Kelly and Clifton Buzz; and Barbara Wallis of Rotorua riding Tried 'n' True.

The South Island team, under Pottinger, is Oxford's Tim Price on Desamoray, Christchurch's Amanda Brown riding Ambrose, Stephen Montgomery of Christchurch on The Ghost, and New Plymouth's Grayling on Klinsmann. The reserve is Whangarei's Kate Wood on Witch Doctor.

The Australian squad will include Boland, Claudia Graham on Diamond B Vogue and Tim Price on Icy Grey.