Equestrian: Tait eyes US in his Olympic build-up

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Olympic equestrian champion Blyth Tait might bypass the Badminton horse trials in the lead-up to next year's Olympics, preferring instead to compete in consecutive events in the United States.

Tait, who is in Auckland for a rest as he recovers from the broken leg he suffered in an accident at the Burghley horse trials in September, said he favoured taking his champion horse, Ready Teddy, to Kentucky rather than Badminton.

"The going in the States might be better than the slog-in-the-bog Badminton can often be," said Tait, who will be an interested spectator at the Auckland Airport Qantas three-day event starting at Puhinui tomorrow.

"There is a three-star event at Fox Hall Farm near Atlanta the week after Kentucky. It is not cheap to compete in the States, but if it can be worked out I would be keen to stay and take the opportunity to ride another horse."

Tait, second in Kentucky last year on Aspyring, might be joined there in 2000 by Andrew Nicholson, who is keen to contest the only four-star event in the United States.

Like Nicholson, Tait is keen to ride in both the New Zealand team and as an individual at the Sydney Olympics. Mark Todd, who is expected in Auckland today, is also likely to make a bid for both.

"It is up to the selectors," said Tait. "We have no problem with that. I would be surprised, however, if we have more than five riders - for the maximum of seven horses - in Sydney.

"While I would obviously like another gold medal, I would really love to see New Zealand win Olympic team gold for the first time. I realise that other nations are improving and getting closer to New Zealand, but we too are getting better and better."

Nicholson has four horses with four-star experience as he prepares for his tilt at winning Olympic selection for the fourth time.

"It takes a lot of careful planning. I know now where I will be every weekend next year," he said. "We have to be very careful not to overwork the horses with so many important competitions coming up."

Vaughn Jefferis will have his 1994 world championship-winning mount Bounce in the frame again, for the last time.

While Jefferis, too, will not have any say in which competition he lines up in, Tait said he would be happy to see the New Zealand-based combination back in the team event.

Jefferis and Bounce won team bronze in Atlanta and gold in the team event at last year's world championships in Rome.

"They are very consistent and would be a valuable part of the team if selected," said Tait.

If Todd, Tait, Nicholson and Jefferis are, as seems certain, to form the basis of New Zealand's three-day eventing contingent in Sydney, the competition for the other place, or places, promises to be fierce.