from Equestrian Sports (dated 16 August 2010)

Eventer Andrew Nicholson's red hot form is continuing, this time at the prestigious Hartpury Horse Trials in Gloucestershire.
 
The UK based 49 year old won the CIC*** section D aboard Mr Cruise Control, was fourth in the same division on Nereo, and second by a slither in the CIC*** section C on Avebury.
 
And he wasn't the only Kiwi in top form either – Mark Todd and NZB Campino won the CCI** section B, with Joe Meyer on Intrepid in 11th spot.
 
Meyer suffered a bitter blow just days before the event when his number one horse Snip was ruled out for the year. He had arrived in Hartpury in great shape but it was later discovered the horse has fractured a bone in his hock, putting him out of contention for next month's World Equestrian Games.
 
Nicholson's fine form comes on the back of his history-making win at the Aachen CICO*** last month where he was the first non-German rider to take victory.
 
Equestrian Sports New Zealand eventing high performance leader Erik Duvander was full of praise for his star rider.
 
“Andrew is on top of his game – he rode all three of those horses fantastically. The horses are all hitting form and it is down to Andrew's good work. He's riding at his utmost best – if that continues it will put him in with a chance (individually) at WEG.”
 
Duvander says he's been watching Nicholson's horses coming through for the past six years and is not at all surprised at their efforts – but he's hopeful it will hold through to the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky next month.
 
Caroline Powell and MacMacdonald looked promising.
 
“They're coming back into work from injury and are looking very impressive,” says Duvander – especially on the back of their fourth placing at the Bramham Horse Trials 2010 in the UK.
 
“Their showjumping and cross country at Hartpury were amazing and their dressage good too. Caroline is a very good jockey and so experienced.”
 
He considers Mark Todd and NZB Grass Valley are a “solid” team combination
 
“We have a small group and are relying on the horses staying sound, healthy and well. Overall, they're an impressive bunch in the showjumping and cross country,” says Duvander.
 
The Hartpury trials attracted more than 400 entries from top British, Australian, New Zealand and Swedish riders. It was considered a key event for the six Northern Hemisphere based Kiwi WEG hopefuls to impress selectors.
 
The New Zealand riders were also put through their paces earlier in the week when they took on the Australians for a 'friendly' doing the 4* dressage test they will have to do at Kentucky.
Best of the New Zealanders was Jonathan Paget and Clifton Promise who scored a personal best of 72%, very much impressing selectors.
 
But Duvander said he probably paid the price slightly at the trials by pushing the boundaries at the 'friendly'.
 
“The past month has been a huge learning curve for Jonathan,” says Duvander. “Both he and the horse just keep on improving – stepping up at every opportunity. I like what I see.”
 
Unfortunately he fell coming out of the water at Hartpury so will have to do another competition before he can secure a spot in the WEG team.
 
Also starting in the near future is Meyer on Clifton Lush. The combination did not start at Hartpury but will be competing in an advanced competition in a couple of weeks.