Equestrian: Sweden beckons Grayling after win in cup qualifier

Taranaki equestrian Matthew Grayling earned the right to represent New Zealand at the World Cup eventing final in Sweden this year after winning the New Zealand qualifier at Te Awamutu yesterday.

Riding Gordon, he led after the advanced section dressage on Friday and maintained his position in Saturday's cross-country round to take a 10-mark lead into the final showjumping round yesterday.

Grayling never looked like surrendering his lead, going clear in the showjumping inside the required time to claim victory and the $5000 first prize.

He finished on a score of 64.1 and had three rails in hand heading into the showjumping after eventual runner-up Chelsey Hawthorne added one time penalty.

New Zealand representative Andrew Scott, on Clifton Mitavite X Factor, finished third on 85.5.

The showjumping circuit was measured tightly and proved troublesome for most of the combinations. Grayling and Scott were the only riders not to incur any time penalties.

Grayling rode Revo to win the corresponding event last year.

He went on to finish eighth after lying fourth after the cross country in the World Cup final in France last November.

The 2005 World Cup is in Malmo, Sweden, on August 11-14.

Grayling is undecided whether to make the trip.

He said the high costs involved, with no funding available from New Zealand Eventing, was a big factor.

If he does go to Sweden, Grayling is not committed to riding Gordon.

"Because I've qualified, I can take another horse if I wanted."

Gordon is owned by Christchurch businessman Stephen Montgomery. The horse joined Grayling's stable only this year and has had instant success, the partnership winning the Central Districts horse trial at Himatangi last month.

The horse trial at Te Awamutu was one of 17 World Cup qualifying events and the first to be held outside the Northern Hemisphere this year.

- NZPA