Equestrian: Todd out of 2010 squad

Mark Todd and Gandalf have been left out of the national eventing squad for next year's world equestrian games, but are in the preliminary 2012 lineup.

Three Olympians have made the squad for the world equestrian games in Kentucky - Joe Meyer and Snip, Andrew Nicholson and Avebury and Nereo, and Caroline Powell and Lenamore.

Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) said last week that these combinations were the only ones deemed capable of achieving top 16 placings in Kentucky, based on recent performance.

However, combinations could be added to, or removed from, either squad by the selectors at any time.

The final selection for the world equestrian games is likely to be in August 2010.

The second squad, for 2012, contains combinations deemed to have the potential, at this early stage, to achieve ESNZ and New Zealand Olympic Committee targets for the 2012 Games.

Members of the 2010 squad may also form part of this squad, ESNZ says.

The 2012 squad is Matthew Grayling - Parklane Hawk, Clarke Johnstone - Orient Express, Joe Meyer - Clifton Lush, Andrew Nicholson - Armada, Jonathan Paget - Clifton Promise, Caroline Powell - Mac MacDonald, Tim Price - Vortex, Neil Spratt - Upleadon, Mark Todd - Gandalf, Heelan Tompkins - Sugoi, Annabel Wigley - Black Drum.

Both squads will be reviewed at five four-star events before the World Equestrian Games - at Pau (October 2009), Adelaide (December 2009), Badminton and Kentucky (May 2010), and Luhmuehlen (July 2010).

Meanwhile, the senior squad for the transtasman event in Adelaide in November , will be Matthew Grayling - Parklane Hawk, Clarke Johnstone - Orient Express, Jenna Mahoney - Santos, Jonathan Paget - Clifton Promise, Donna Smith - Stanage, Anne-Marie Styles - As You Like It and Opera Groove, Heelan Tompkins - Sugoi, and Kate Wood - Easy Tiger.

- NZPA