Equestrian: Meech in final, Cashmore out

9.20am UPDATE - By KEVIN NORQUAY

ATHENS - Daniel Meech has ridden an almost flawless showjumping round to seal New Zealand a place in the Olympic Games final on Friday.

Riding bay stallion Diagonal, Meech went clear of jumping penalties and copped just one time penalty in the third and final qualifying round.

Placed 63rd after a disappointing first round on Sunday, Meech soared into the top 45 in two rounds today.

Impressive enough with just six penalties in the morning, he earned an ovation from the large crowd this evening with a polished display.

On the edge of making the final when 45th after the morning round, Meech sealed his final berth emphatically under floodlights.

He is the third New Zealander to reach an Olympic final, after legendary horseman Mark Todd in 1988, and Bruce Goodin in Sydney four years ago.

Grant Cashmore, the New Zealand rider who surprisingly led after the first qualifying round, slipped down the rankings today.

After 12 faults in the morning session dropped him to 28th, a 21-point evening haul left him with an anxious wait to see if he and Franklin's Flyte made the top 45.

After two hours, the worst was confirmed for Cashmore -- he had been pushed outside the top 45 and was out of the Olympics.

Cashmore told NZPA Franklin's Flyte had let him down.

"He was a little nervous today, he knew what he was coming up here for," he said.

"He got tired, he just got tired. He didn't help me much tonight, he was a bit nervous, and he is a stressful horse.

"He has to learn to cope with the pressure too -- we have to, he has to, horses do understand pressure.

"I still feel happy. It is my first (Olympics), I've got to learn from this, I always learn from my mistakes."

Cashmore placed 48th of 77 riders, missing the final by two points, when a fallen rail is four points.

Meech qualified 29th, on 20 points. Beezie Madden of the United States qualified top, after going through all three rounds without penalty.

Germany won the team gold, with the United States second and Sweden third.

Points in the qualifying round are scrapped for the final, with all riders starting with a clean sheet.

Meech, 30, who appeared not to initially believe he had achieved his dream, told NZPA it was the highlight of his career.

- NZPA