<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><strong>Kiwi eventers were out of the top 10 at the Greenwich
Park Eventing Invitational in London this morning (Thursday), but still full of
praise for the historic venue for next year’s London Olympics.</strong><br></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">Double Olympic gold medallist Mark Todd was the best of
the New Zealand trio, finishing in 15<sup>th</sup> spot aboard youngster NZB
Campino in the test event.<br><br></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">“<span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">What an amazing venue,” he said. “I think it will be made
to work really well for next year. The organisers are keen to take on comments
to make it a fantastic games.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>All three of the Kiwi eventers were clear of jumping
penalties over the tight and hilly cross country course, with Todd one of just
seven combinations to go on to double clear in the showjumping.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Andrew Nicholson and Viscount George finished in 17<sup>th</sup>
position, with Clarke Johnstone and Incognito 25<sup>th</sup>.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Nicholson was also happy with the test venue.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br>“<span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">It is impressive and very different to what we are used
to,” he said.. “It will definitely be an exciting cross country at the games.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance director
Sarah Harris was pleased to see how well the young New Zealand horses coped
with the charged environment and atmosphere.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br>“<span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">It was a very well organised event.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Honours went to Great Britain's Piggy French aboard DHI
Topper who almost didn't get to start the showjumping after being held over
during the final horse inspection, but passed on further examination.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>French, who led from the dressage, said that while it was
special to win at the Olympic Test Event, there was more to it.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br>“<span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">This has really been about checking things out before
next summer's games and from that point of view it's been a huge success,"
she said. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Second was current world champion Michael Jung (GER) on
River of Joy.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>From an organisational perspective, the last few days
have provided a bank of information and ideas that will be sifted through in
great detail as debriefing takes place. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>LOCOG equestrian competition manager Tim Hadaway said
comments from competitors and everyone else involved in the event will all be
taken on board.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><br>The
next big competition for the New Zealand eventers will be at the Aachen
International Festival (Germany) in mid July.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Results:</span></strong> <span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Piggy French (GBR) DHI Topper W 34.70
1; Michael Jung (GER) River of Joy 41.80 2; Pippa Funnell (GBR) Billy Shannon
44.90 3;Clayton Fredericks (AUS) Bendigo 46.10 4; Sara Algotsson Ostholt (SWE)
Mrs Medicott 46.60 5; Virginie Caulier (BEL) Nepal du Sudre 50.80 6; Vittoria
Panizzon (ITA) Borough PennyZ 56.40 7; Joseph Murphy (IRL) Chuckelberry 58.60
8; 9, Donatien Schauly (FRA) Pivoine des Touches 60 9; William Fox-Pitt (GBR)
Gaucho 60.30 10; <strong>Mark Todd (NZL) NZB Campino 63.10 15; Andrew Nicholson
(NZL) Viscount George 64.60 17; Clarke Johnstone (NZL) Incognito 73.10 25. </strong></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Photographs are available from <a href="mailto:
[email protected]">
[email protected]</a></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">- Diana Dobson<br>Media Liaison, ESNZ</p>
