Equestrian: Riders get one back to restore hurt pride

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Clear showjumping rounds by two of the world's best riders allowed New Zealand to get one back on Australia in perhaps the last international equestrian contest of the year.

While the occasion was not of the same class as the rugby or cricket World Cups or the rugby league test series, New Zealand savoured victory over the Aussies with a narrow win in the three-day Auckland International Airport Qantas event at Puhinui yesterday.

But it was a close-run thing with the talented Aussies fighting all the way.

Led by Andrew Nicholson, who rode borrowed mount Heyerdahl to individual victory with a superb display, New Zealand beat their transtasman rivals by a mere five points. In the end, two showjumping rails dropped by Gill Rolton on Rangatahi Redwing just robbed the Australians of yet another sporting triumph.

Nicholson only needed to stay upright in the showjumping to claim individual honours.

Ahead of Mark Todd on PCL Crusader by 24 points after Saturday's cross-country, Nicholson made no mistakes - one of eight untroubled showjumping efforts among the 12 international competitors.

All but one horse was comfortably inside the 1m 43s time limit, but Nicholson dismissed suggestions that the showjumping test was too easy.

"It is more a reflection on the quality of horses," said Nicholson, who returns to England today to continue his Olympic build-up. "It is no good just bumping the fences up to see them get knocked down. It was quite a big test - and fair."

Todd described it as a decent track, adding it had been tackled by good riders on good horses.

"It is always good fun to ride here," said Todd, who will take a month's holiday before heading back to England where he will prepare both for the Olympics and his permanent return to New Zealand after that. "Next year I won't have to come so far to compete."

Britain's Mary King, on Celtic, retained her third place with another clear round.

Saturday's cross-country was reduced to a lottery with an untimely downpour.

While the top six riders got around with no jumping faults, all incurred time faults.

Todd was the best - just 11s outside the 7m 06s optimum - while Nicholson was another 14s back.

The New Zealand selectors took more than a passing interest in the three-star event and, in particular, the former world champion combination of Vaughn Jefferis and his mount Bounce.

Ahead of Shane Rose by just three points after the endurance phase, Jefferis had his task made easier when the Australian, riding his horse Joe Cool, incurred 15 jumping faults in the showjumping.

Jumping clear, Jefferis finished 11 points ahead of Belgium's Constantin Van Rijckevorsel on Tielcey Glenbrook with Rose seven points back in third.

Equestrian selection convenor Jim Wright was pleased with the performance of Jefferis and his mount.

"He did all we were looking for," said Wright. "We couldn't be happier with where we are at. Working out the final selections might not be all that easy but it could be the case of who to leave out rather than who to put in - and where."

Jefferis also finished ninth on Curious George. They may yet make a late Olympic bid as there are plans for the duo to compete in the United States, probably in the three-star event at Fox Hall Farm in April rather than the more difficult four-star in Kentucky.