N.Z. equestrians have chance—Nicholson

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 60

N.Z. equestrians have chance —Nicholson

NZPA London An equestrian rider, Andrew Nicholson, believes New Zealand has every chance of being a top medal contender when it competes in the three-day event at the Stockholm equestrian championships this week. The New Zealand team of Nicholson, riding eight-year-old gelding Spinning Rhombus, the double Olympic gold medallist, Mark Todd, on grey gelding Welton Greylag and Vaughn Jefferis, riding Sandalwood, is up against tough opposition from the European nations in the event.

Organisers are using it as a dress rehearsal for next year’s world eques-, trian championships.

European countries win be looking for good performances building up to the European three-day championships at Burleigh, England, in September.

However Nicholson, who competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, said New Zealand has the quality to mount a solid challenge. “We’ve got as good a chance as the others. I don’t think the British are sending their best team, but some of the countries will use it as last-minute preparation for the European champs. “We should be able to keep up with them,”, he said. i Riders compete both as individuals and in the teams event, and New

Zealand does have one disadvantage. Most teams will have four riders, with the three best performances to count. “It would have been . better with four. With three riders you can’t afford any upsets or go astray, but we could do quite well,” Nicholson said. The obvious contender for the fourth place would have been Blyth Tait, but his favoured mount, Mes-. siah, is recovering from a virus suffered at the Chantilly horse trial last month after finishing second there. Nicholson has good current form behind him. He is confident Spinning Rhombus will be up to the mark. ft .: