Equestrian: Todd and Gandalf back in action

Double Olympic gold medallist Mark Todd and Gandalf, left out of the national eventing squad for next year's world equestrian games (WEG), will be back in the international arena this weekend in Poland.

Todd is riding in the FEI World Cup final at Strzegom, where the field of 31 riders from 14 nations will include defending champion Clayton Fredericks of Australia.

Todd and Gandalf were omitted from the 2010 WEG squad named in July, but Equestrian Sports New Zealand said combinations could be added or removed with final selection likely to be next August.

In the last World Cup qualifier, at Gatbombe in England, Gandalf ran out at a cross-country fence and the combination finished 42nd.

Caroline Powell, riding Lenamore, was the top New Zealand performer at Gatcombe and in the qualifying series - finishing fifth in the event for 10th ranking overall.

- NZPA