Equestrian: NZ riders now look to Sydney

LONDON - The New Zealand equestrian team can win the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics if all their horses are fit, according to riders Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson.

The pair said they felt the Kiwis had the potential to take gold despite a disappointing result at Badminton yesterday.

Todd was the best of the New Zealanders, taking fifth place on his young mount Eye Spy, which knocked down two rails in the showjumping.

Britons took the top three places for the first time in nine years, with Mary King winning overall honours after going clear on Star Appeal.

Despite the British success, Todd said New Zealand had the ability to improve on their bronze medal effort in Atlanta four years ago to be serious gold medal contenders in Sydney.

"We will be aiming to get there in the best shape we can and hopefully we can produce better results than in Atlanta. We have some very good horses and we have quite a strong squad," Todd said.

Todd finished his 20-year association with Badminton delighted with the fifth placing on his chestnut gelding.

He said: "It has been a strange feeling. After a good ride in the cross-country I thought maybe I would like to come back again, but that's definitely the last one."

Todd won there at his first attempt in 1980 and won again in 1994 and 1996. He finished second in the past two years.

A roar broke out from the crowd when Todd entered the main arena but they watched in silence as he jumped the 12 fences for the last time.

Nicholson's New York had a chance of winning before clattering five rails in the showjumping to slip to eighth.

"He jumped the first few very well and then started rubbing the rails. But I just had to keep going. It's no good whingeing about a missed chance. Life goes on and there's the Olympics to come."

Two other New Zealand riders, rookie Paul O'Brien on Enzed and Caroline Powell on Dalliance, improved to 10th and 11th respectively.

Powell had the best showjumping round of all the Kiwis, dropping just one rail in the treble Nicholson said New Zealand had a great opportunity to win gold at Sydney.

"We have a good bunch of riders and horses and if they are all fit we'll be right in there.

"We've got great team spirit. This is only the beginning of the year."

New Zealand's Olympic preparations are well under way despite Blyth Tait falling from Chesterfield at Badminton. He won in Kentucky on Welton Envoy a week ago.

Tait will ride his top horse, Ready Teddy, at the Chatsworth trials next weekend and has Aspyring in the wings.

The New Zealand selectors will name their Olympic equestrian team on July 3

- NZPA