From Horsetalk.co.nz (4 May 2010)
Four Kiwi riders finished in the top 20 at the weekend's Badminton Horse Trials, a result which has pleased New Zealand eventing team coach Erik Duvander.
"It was quite a spectacular Badminton," Duvander said.
"It was a proper big track and even the best horses and riders had difficulties out there - it was a real, true test. I'm very happy [with the New Zealanders] - the ones who went well went very well, and the others just made a few mistakes, and those always cost you big in competitions like Badminton."
With the World Equestrian Games coming up in September, Badminton was a good watermark for horses and riders hoping to be competitive at the Games. "Without a doubt, this will be the best world championships ever held," he said.
Unfortunately, Caroline Powell and the intrepid Lenamore, the best placing Kiwi combination at Badminton, are not available for international team selection, so will not get a chance at the WEG.
Powell and Lenamore jumped clear in the show-jumping to finish fifth on a score of 51.4, just 6.5 penalties behind Australian winner Paul Tapner and Inonothing.
It was the pair's blazing cross-country round, adding only 1.2 time penalties to their dressage score, that propelled the Beijing Olympians from 33rd after dressage to 7th after cross-country.
"Her cross-country was astounding, this was her fastest time at Badminton and one of the best rounds I've ever seen her do," said Eventing Team Coach Erik Duvander. "[Caroline and Lenamore] have such a special partnership: they are proper world class. It's great to see Caroline riding at her very best."
Andrew Nicholson also show-jumped clear with both of his young horses, Nereo and Avebury. Nereo finished 11th on a score of 59, after a swift and clever cross-country round. Avebury, who was 9th after the dressage, finished 27th on a score of 76.3, incurring 32 jump and time penalties on the cross-country course.
"Andrew was the hot favourite on both horses, because he's winning everything this season and because he's ridden around Badminton 28 times, more than any other rider," Erik said.
"That was a bit unlikely, given how young his horses are. They are showing talent and the ability to win these big classes, and it's going to be exciting to see what they can do in a few years. Andrew's really pleased with both horses. I also think it's amazing that, at his age, Andrew is riding better than ever and keeps getting better."
Joe Meyer and the veteran Snip dropped two rails to finish 17th on a score of 68.1. Mark Todd and Grass Valley were right on his heels: they dropped one rail for a score of 68.6 and 18th place.
"[Grass Valley] is another young, upcoming horse," Erik said. "Mark's only had him for one year, and the horse didn't do much of anything before that. Mark really showed his class: after fence three [on the cross-country course] the horse settled in and never missed a beat. It was a perfect round: you could just see the horse grow throughout the ride, and Mark was really pleased with him."
Bruce Haskell and Kiwi Smog also completed Badminton. After placing 68th in the dressage, they picked up 88 penalties cross-country, and dropped one rail to finish in 50th place on a score of 155.2.
Only 50 of the 83 horse and riders that completed the dressage finished at Badminton. Three of the 10 Kiwi combinations didn't make it round: Neil Spratt and Upleadon, after their brilliant 4th place dressage finish, retired on cross-country. Dan Jocelyn and Special Attorney and Joe Meyer and Clifton Lush were eliminated on cross-country, and Annabel Wigley withdrew Black Drum at the Final Horse Inspection.