Equstrian: NZ riders feature strongly at Burghley

New Zealand riders filled four of the top 10 places at the Burghley horse trials in England at the end of a tense showjumping test today.

Olympic medallist in 1992 and 1996, Andrew Nicholson was the highest-ranked New Zealander at the four-day event, finishing third on Lord Killinghurst with 59.4 penalty points, behind British winner William Fox-Pitt on Ballincoola (50.4) and Australian combination Philip Dutton and The Foreman (53.1).

The other New Zealanders to finish in the top 10 were Scotland-based Caroline Powell, who came fifth on Lenamore (61.3), Nicholson on Duddles in eighth place (67.6) and the combination of Dan Jocelyn and Silence, who finished ninth (68.9).

Of the other New Zealand competitors, Joe Meyer and Ease of Fire finished 19th and Tim Rusbridge on The Verdict, 40th.

Wiltshire-based Nicholson, who also came third on Lord Killinghurst in 2003 and 2004, went into the final day's showjumping in second place, just five penalty points behind Fox-Pitt who had held the lead since the end of the dressage.

But the test proved tough, with only three combinations riding clear rounds, one of whom was Dutton who had been sitting in fourth place after the cross country phase.

Nicholson then dropped three poles and Fox-Pitt used up the two fences he had in-hand before clearing the last jump.

Nicholson, 43, said afterwards that Lord Killinghurst always found the showjumping stage of events "tricky".

"He tried hard today but it was a bit beyond him," he told NZPA.

"The showjumping course was very difficult and caused a lot of trouble so I should really be happy with three (poles) down."

Nicholson, who is considered to be the most consistent eventer in the world, was philosophical about his third consecutive third-placing at the Lincolnshire event.

"I think most people would be pretty happy if they could finish third three times in a row in a four-star event at this level."

He was pleased with Duddles' performance to finish eighth and also impressed with the results of the other New Zealand riders.

Nicholson said earlier this year at the Badminton trials, where he finished fourth on Lord Killinghurst, that New Zealand eventing was going through a "lean patch" and young riders were not hungry enough for success.

After today he said that "that side of it is looking good; it's making things look very hopeful."

Jocelyn, who finished third on Silence at Burghley in 2001 and moved up from 28th place after the dressage on Friday, agreed that the New Zealand results were impressive.

"I'm thrilled to bits," he said.

"It was another great performance for my little horse and a great day for New Zealand having so many in the top 20."

Powell's fifth placing on Lenamore topped a successful run for the former Christchurch rider after she finished sixth at the three-star Blair Castle event a week ago.

"The whole year's been really consistent," she said. "It kicked off really well and has just been ticking along nicely."

- NZPA