Equestrian: Experienced team named for Olympics eventing

New Zealand have named an Olympics eventing team chockful of experience that includes 1996 individual gold medal winners Blyth Tait and Ready Teddy.

The team announced today by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) in conjunction with Equestrian Sports New Zealand are Andrew Nicholson, Blyth Tait, Matthew Grayling, Heelan Tompkins and Dan Jocelyn.

"This team has an excellent balance of riders with vast Olympic experience and riders who will be competing in their first Olympics," Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance manager Justine Kidd said.

"It is exciting to be able to confirm such a strong team and also to have the backup of a very talented group of riders named as reserves."

Blyth Tait, 43, and Andrew Nicholson, 42, are among the world's top eventers, both in success and experience.

Nicholson was in the New Zealand eventing teams who won a silver medal in Barcelona, 1992, and a bronze medal in Atlanta in 1996.

Nicholson will be competing at his fifth Olympic Games in Athens having started his Olympic career at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Tait's horses are 14-year-old Eze and 16-year-old Ready Teddy. It was on Ready Teddy that Tait won the gold medal at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

Both horses have recently shown winning form at the Punchestown Horse Trials. Nicholson's horses are Lord Killinghurst, 13, and Fenicio, 12.

On Lord Killinghurst, Nicholson was second in this year's Badminton Horse Trials and on Fenicio, he finished second at the Chatsworth 3 star event.

A decision on which horses Tait and Nicholson will compete on will be made closer to the competition.

Dan Jocelyn, 33, and Silence also come with considerable international experience.

The combination was named in the Sydney 2000 Olympic team but did not start after Silence, 12, was injured before the competition.

Jocelyn and Silence were 12th at the world equestrian games in Spain in 2002.

Taranaki rider Heelan Tompkins and Glengarrick, 16, were first reserves for the Sydney Games.

Tompkins, 26, is the youngest in the team. She recently placed 10th at the Chatsworth Horse Trials and has won the New Zealand three-day event title three times.

Matthew Grayling, 40, is the only member of the team who has based his campaign from New Zealand.

Also from Taranaki, Grayling, with his horse Revo, were recently pipped at the post at the Taupo 3 day event by Australia's Olivia Bunn.

NZOC secretary-general Barry Maister is excited by the team named today.

"New Zealand has a fine Olympic history in the three-day event and the team named today has the ability to continue that tradition."

Three reserves have also been named as part of the team.

These are Kate Hewlett and internet (Kerikeri), Caroline Powell and Softly Softly II (Christchurch) and Jonelle Richards and Mazetto (Christchurch).

They will be keeping their horses in training so they are able to step in if necessary.

The announcement of the eventing team now leaves just men's basketball, canoeing, showjumping, swimming relay, and any extra track and field athletes to be named.

The Olympic Games run from August 13-29.

The New Zealand Olympic Eventing Team:

Matthew Grayling and Revo, Dan Jocelyn and Silence, Andrew Nicholson and Fenicio/Lord Killinghurst, Blyth Tait and Eze/Ready Teddy, Heelan Tompkins and Glengarrick.

Reserves: Kate Hewlett and internet, Caroline Powell and Softly Softly, Jonelle Richards and Mazetto.

- NZPA