Equestrian: Eventing shortlist for Athens reduced to nine

1.00pm

Eventing New Zealand today named its shortlist of riders for the Olympic Games in Athens in August.

From the list of nine riders, the final eventing team of five will be named at the end of June.

As expected, Olympic veterans Andrew Nicholson and Blyth Tait have been named on the list, both with two horses.

For the other riders named, it will be their first Olympics. They are Matthew Grayling, Kate Hewlett, Dan Jocelyn, Kate Lambie, Caroline Powell, Jonelle Richards and Heeland Tompkins.

Lambie's horse Nufarm Alibi and one of Tait's mounts, Ready Teddy, are the only two horses who must still obtain Olympic qualification.

Ready Teddy is half way there, having completed the Chatsworth event last weekend to Olympic standards. Tait hoped to gain full qualification at the Punchestown Three Day Event on June 4-6. Nufarm Alibi needs to complete two further events to qualify.

Chairman of selectors Mary Darby said the Olympic squad showed the depth of talent in New Zealand eventing.

"We have a good mix of very experienced riders and some exciting younger riders still proving themselves at international level," she said.

Grayling is the only rider currently based in New Zealand, with the others all UK-based.

Eventing New Zealand Olympic shortlist: Matthew Grayling (Revo), Kate Hewlett (Internet), Dan Jocelyn (Silence), Kate Lambie (Nufarm Alibi, pending qualification), Andrew Nicholson (Fenicio or Lord Killinghurst), Caroline Powell (Softly Softly III), Jonelle Richards (Mazetto), Blyth Tait (Eze or Ready Teddy, pending qualification), Heelan Tompkins (Glengarrick)

- NZPA