Equestrian: Kiwis well placed in Normandy

New Zealand eventer Jock Paget. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand are strongly placed after the completion of the opening dressage phase at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy today.

The quartet of Andrew Nicholson, Jock Paget, Tim Price and Mark Todd sit second behind Germany with a team score of 125.5. Germany are on 116.9 with the United States third on 138.8.

Paget on Clifton Promise produced the third best performance in the dressage, to record a score of 38.0.

German Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo leads the individual field after a 35.0, with William Fox-Pitt of Britain on Chilli Morning second on 37.5.

It was a fine, controlled effort from Paget, who is competing in his first major event since returning after having to sit out the last year when Clifton Promise failed a doping test at the Burghley four star event last year. Paget was cleared by the International Equestrian Federation a few weeks ago.

Tim Price on Wesko, at their first Games, are sixth on 42.0, Nicholson and Nereo are 15th on 45.5, while Todd and Leonidas are 29th on 49.2.

New Zealand's two individual representatives, Lucy Jackon on Willy Do, and Jonelle Price riding Classic Moet also had good days. Jackson sits ninth on 43.8 while Price is 26th of the field of 90 with 48.5 points.

Drama awaits in the cross country leg tonight (NZT).

Heavy rain in recent days has cut up the testing course to such a degree that two fences have been removed and the time riders must complete the course in has been altered.