Equestrian: Nicholson fall dents NZ hopes in cross-country battle

10.30pm - By KEVIN NORQUAY

A tumble by three-day event rider Andrew Nicholson took the steam out of a valiant New Zealand cross-country effort at the Olympic Games today.

New Zealand went on the attack after lowly dressage scores dented their medal prospects, with three of the first four riders going clear in cross-country.

Only 1996 Olympic champion Blyth Tait collected penalties, a scant 1.2 for being three seconds outside the allotted nine minutes 46 seconds.

Olympic rookies Daniel Jocelyn, Heelan Tompkins and Matthew Grayling were flawless, with Tompkins climbing to 10th overall and Grayling 17th.

Then came Nicholson, who had posted the third-best New Zealand score in the dressage.

Another clear round seemed certain, until Fenicio clipped the 31st of 34 fences.

Much to his horror Nicholson, known as Mr Stickability in the eventing world, was unseated.

Bleeding from his nose and lip, he told reporters he would not normally have fallen in that situation. He was unsure why he had.

Two riders later, Olympic triple gold medallist Andrew Hoy of Australia went down at the same fence.

For all the effort, New Zealand improved their medal prospects only slightly.

Sixth after the dressage, they were still sixth after the cross-country, needing an outstanding showjumping performance tomorrow to claw into the medals.

France took the lead on 113.40 points, followed by Germany (119.60), Britain (125.60), the United States (128.40), Australia (129.40), and New Zealand 156.20.

Frenchman Nicolas Touzaint was faultless today to retain his lead in the chase for the individual gold. His 29.40 points leads German Bettina Hoy (35.60) and US rider Kimberly Severson (36.20).

Tompkins is on 44.00 points, climbing from 13th to 10th today. Grayling has 47.20 points, his cross-country moving him from 22nd to 17th.

In what seem certain to be his last Olympics, Tait moved from 54th to 33rd (65.00), while Jocelyn now lies 35th. He was 61st at the end of the dressage.

With each fallen rail in tomorrow's two closing showjumping rounds costing riders four points, placings could yet change dramatically.

The team showjumping competition is tomorrow, after a vet check, with the top 25 riders jumping for the individual gold under floodlights in the evening.

Each country can start three riders only in the top 25 jump off.


- NZPA