Equestrian: Tompkins secures win

Heelan Tompkins sent a clear message to the New Zealand selectors that she and mount Sugoi are serious contenders for the New Zealand Olympics equestrian team when she won the FEI World Cup eventing at the International Horse Trial near Te Awamutu yesterday.

Tompkins led from start to finish. Anne-Marie Styles on Opera Groove finished second and Jonathan Pagent third, both producing clear show-jumping rounds. Tompkins is basing her Olympics campaign in New Zealand and hopes the victory will cement her position in the Games team, which will be announced in June.

She is up against the legendary Mark Todd who has returned to the sport after eight years in retirement.