Equestrian: Nicholson well placed after dressage at Burghley

10.30am

New Zealander Andrew Nicholson was in second place after the dressage phase of the Burghley Horse Trials, just 4.8 points behind leader Pippa Funnell, of Britain.

Nicholson, on Lord Killinghurst, put a disappointing Olympic campaign behind him to be in a strong position heading into tomorrow's cross-country in the prestigious three-day event.

"He couldn't have done any better than what he did in there," Nicholson said of Lord Killinghurst.

"He is a joy to ride. He is good in all aspects of the dressage and that makes it easier. He knows his job very well."

The next best placed New Zealander is Caroline Powell, who recorded a score of 50.6, to be in 20th place on her mare Softly Softly III.

Britain's William Fox Pitt is in third place and Australia's Andrew Hoy in fourth. From a strong New Zealand presence at the famous three-day event, most finished in the top half of the field of 90 horses.

Joe Meyer, on Snip, is in 28th place after the dressage and Northland's Kate Hewlett in 32nd.

Blyth Tait, competing in his last international event before returning to New Zealand to live, holds 39th place after a disappointing score of 55.6 on his grey gelding Eze.

Nicholson, on his second horse, Mr Smiffy and Megan Finlayson, on Lionheart, are in 44th equal after a score of 57. Jonelle Richards and Mazetto, who was very unsettled during their test, scored 63.4 and Dan Jocelyn on Special Attorney scored 69.8.

The dressage scores may not have much influence on the results of this event, as the cross-country course is very challenging. Most riders agreed that this is the biggest cross-country test they have seen for some time.

"It's not going to be a dressage competition, that's for sure," Richards said. "Maybe today was the day to have your bad dressage test out of the way."

Tait, a veteran of countless four star events, described the course as very strong.

"It is one of the biggest four stars I have been in for a while. It is fairly serious throughout. There is no one or two fences that are frightening us particularly but all the way round there are chances of making mistakes," he said.

"They are tests of accuracy but with size about them. It's going to be a tough ride."

Tait said there would definitely be some movement in the placings after the cross-country phase of the event, unlike the Olympic cross-country course which was roundly criticised by the riders as being too soft.

The traditional format (including roads and tracks and steeplechase) is being used for the cross-country overnight. These elements were dropped from the Olympic competition.

- NZPA