From Otago Daily Time (dated 04 May 2010)

Caroline Powell rode Lenamore to a clear show jumping round and finished top of the New Zealanders at the Badminton horse trials in England this morning (NZ time).

Powell was fifth -- improving two places from the cross country phase -- on 51.4 penalty points. Australia's Paul Tapner won on Inonothing on 44.9 points. Powell and Lenamore were fourth at Badminton in 2008.

Other New Zealanders to finish in the top 20 were Andrew Nicholson on Nereo, 11th on 59 points, Joe Meyer on Snip, 17th on 68.1 points and three-times Badminton winner Mark Todd on Grass Valley, 18th on 68.6 points.

Powell's 17-year-old mount Lenamore belied his age springing around the show jumps with ease. The horse’s owners have said that he is no longer available for New Zealand team selection for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky later in the year, but are expected now to come under pressure to make him available after his continuing Badminton success.

The combination finished fourth at Badminton in 2008 and ninth last year.

Powell was delighted with the horse’s performance.

“He’s just such a lovely horse to ride, and I’m so pleased for everyone who’s been involved with him,” she said.

Although the minor placings changed significantly during the show jumping phase the overnight leader, Australia’s Paul Tapner held his nerve to jump a clear round on Inonothing and take the Badminton title.

British favourite Mary King who was lying second with Imperial Cavalier came into the arena to loud applause, but they dropped a rail and fell to fourth place. This left Germany’s Andreas Dibowski and Euroridings Butts Leon in second with Daisy Berkeley in third on Spring Along.

Christchurch’s Annabel Wigley had the disappointment to incur injury to Black Drum during a storming cross country round which had them in 18th place overnight. The horse had knocked a knee during the rigours of the cross country and had to be withdrawn before the final show jumping phase.