Obstacles have loomed as regularly as fences and jumps for former world and Olympic eventing champion Blyth Tait in his comeback, but his Rio Games dream remains alive.
The 54-year-old knows he's racing against the clock to qualify for the Olympics in his sixth decade like compatriots Andrew Nicholson (54)and Sir Mark Todd (59) have done before. It's not his age that matters — such experience has been an asset — rather achieving enough success at top-tier four-star events to become a contender.
Since his 2011 return after a seven-year break, Tait has completed one four-star event at Luhmuhlen, Germany, in June — he finished 23rd on 13-year-old gelding Xanthus III.
"He made one mistake on the cross-country which was disappointing at the time, but I still took a lot of positives out of it," Tait told the Herald on Sunday from his English base. "It's early in his career. He was green on the dressage but showjumped clear. I was tempted to take him to Burghley [next month] but felt if I was sensible he could be a strong contender for Badminton next [northern] spring."
Despite his pedigree, Tait faces extreme competition to command one of four Olympic places if New Zealand qualify a team in October. Nicholson, Jock Paget, Tim and Jonelle Price and Todd have secured top-10 finishes at four-star events in the past year. All except Nicholson are in Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance squad, alongside Caroline Powell, Lucy Jackson and Clarke Johnstone.
"Realistically, I know it's a long shot because other Kiwis are going brilliantly," Tait said. "I need to do something outstanding to match that.
Tait's campaign suffered when the world governing body FEI introduced rider licences. Anyone out of the sport as long as him received no dispensation to return, regardless of past glories. He's since returned to 85 in the world rankings.
"I had a lifetime qualification at four-star level and it was basically taken off me and I was sent back to requalify from the beginning," he said.
