Equestrian: Todd, seventh, leads Kiwis

LONDON - Mark Todd, riding Eye Spy, was the best-placed of the New Zealand contingent after the first day of dressage at the Badminton horse trials yesterday, lying in seventh place.

Todd won at Badminton 20 years ago and is retiring from the international arena after the Sydney Olympics.

His team-mate Andrew Nicholson was ninth yesterday on Whit Monday. Nicholson was to ride his second horse, New York, overnight (NZ time), along with world champion Blyth Tait, the best of the New Zealand prospects, on Chesterfield.

Unknown Briton Tristram Owers was leading the dressage, while last year's winner, Ian Stark, was third equal on Rangitoto, a horse previously owned by Tait.

Todd was happy with Eye Spy's performance in bitterly cold conditions.

"Dressage is his worst phase so I thought he did well," he said.

Todd has just the one horse at Badminton after his other entry, Word For Word, had to be withdrawn because of injury a fortnight ago.

Nicholson was satisfied with Whit Monday's first dressage in a four-star event.

"He is a big horse, getting on to 18 hands, and doesn't move very well. He felt a bit cramped in there but he got by," Nicholson said.

"He's level-headed, so we'll see how we get on in the cross-country."

Paul O'Brien (15th), Virginia Loisel (18th) and Joe Meyer (24th) were the best of the other New Zealand riders.

- NZPA