<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><strong>Andrew Nicholson spear-heads a small but quality Kiwi
field to Les Etoiles de Pau, a top ranking international three day event in
France this weekend.</strong></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>While it is the final leg in the HSBC FEI Classics – the
grand slam of eventing – it is also the first event of 2012 season, and run in
the most picturesque surroundings at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Mark Todd is sitting in fourth spot on the classics, but
isn't competing at Pau. However, Nicholson is well placed to move up the board
from his sixth spot, with Caroline Powell in seventh and Jonathan Paget 15<sup>th</sup>.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>The series winner pockets $US150,000, with prize money
running through to $US25,000 for fifth spot.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Nicholson will compete on three horses in the four star
event – Armada, Mr Cruise Control and Henry Tankerville – with Powell aboard
Boston Two Tip and Lucy Jackson set to start Kilcoltrim Ambassador and
Animator. The four star event has attracted 75 starters, including some of the
best in the world.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Sure to be hot favourites are Brits Mary King and William
Fox-Pitt, who are at one and two in the classics series. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Nicholson will also compete in the two star on Viscount
George, with Powell on The Earl of Belvedere and Jonelle Richards, fresh from
her victory at Lignieres-en-Berry, on Short Black. The two star has attracted
43 entries.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>The Kiwis have tasted success at Pau before, with both
Todd and Nicholson having won the two star in the past, but the Germans have
completely dominated the four star in recent years.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>Pau started in 1991 as a one star event and is now in its
fifth year as a four star. It was the first event in France to gain such
ranking, putting it on par with the Olympics and World Championships.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif""><br>The four star dressage phase is set to go Thursday and Friday
(French time), followed by the cross country on Saturday and the showjumping on
Sunday. The 2011 event has attracted riders from 17 nations.</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; ">HSBC FEI Classics™
2011 leaderboard: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">1
Mary King (GBR) 38 points 1, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 25 2, Piggy French (GBR) 20
3, <strong>Mark Todd (NZL) 15 4</strong>, Andreas Dibowski (GER) 15 5, <strong>Andrew
Nicholson (NZL) 14 6,</strong> <strong>Caroline Powell (NZL) 13 7, </strong>Sandra Auffarth
(GER) 12 8, Clayton Fredericks (AUS) 12 9, Sinead Halpin (USA) 10, 10.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
