<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><strong>Andrew Nicholson and
Caroline Powell staked clear Olympic claims, with both finishing in the top
five at the Bramham International Horse Trials in the UK overnight.</strong><br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">A lovely double clear by
Nicholson and Nereo in the showjumping phase of the CIC3* just wasn’t quite
enough to take victory. The combination finished on their dressage score of 42
and in second place, just 3.3 penalty points behind victor William Fox-Pitt on
Neuf des Coeurs, who also won the CCI3* on Chilli Morning.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Powell and Lenamore
finished on their dressage score for fourth place, with Nicholson just .8 of a
penalty behind on Avebury.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Both Nicholson and
Powell were chuffed with the efforts of their mounts.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Lenamore felt
fantastic,” said Powell. “We are one step closer to Greenwich and he absolutely
adored this weekend. He is pretty used to rain and mud in Scotland, so the conditions
didn’t bother him at all.”<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Lucy Jackson and Willy
Do were the best performed of the Kiwis in the CCI3* finishing in eighth spot,
with Nicholson and Tristar II in 11<sup>th</sup>.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">It was another
weather-challenged event at Bramham, on the back of a dreadful season that has
seen top events cancelled. Dressage in the pouring rain still managed to
produce some good scores, although interestingly Nicholson felt Nereo – who
scored 42 penalty points – had gone better than Avebury who notched 40.5.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Jackson produced some
brilliance aboard Animator II to score 41.4 in their dressage and sit in fifth
spot going into the second phase of competition. Powell and Lenamore in one of
their first big competitions for a while made a great come-back in the dressage
to finish with a score of 45 – despite an almighty buck mid-test – while
defending champ Jonathan Paget and Clifton Lush scored 48.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">All horses struggled in
the deep mud, with those going later most definitely facing a more challenging
task.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Experience shone through
in the showjumping phase the following day, with many a horse notching cricket
scores. However, top Kiwi combinations showed their class, with Nicholson and
Nereo clear and moving up the board, Powell and Lenamore also clear and an
unlucky last rail for Nicholson and Avebury.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The Ian Stark-designed
cross country on the final day called for some bold riding with just nine going
clear and inside time – Nicholson on Nereo, Powell on Lenamore and Richards on
Flintstar included in that illustrious list.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Lizzie Brown is upbeat
after her disappointing elimination in the CCI3* (under 25) cross country
aboard Henton Attorney General. The two were leading the class after the
dressage but were held up at the start of the cross country, which led to the
horse getting a bit worked up. <br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">They took a tumble at
the second fence but have both gone home “without a bruise or a bump”.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Gutted,” said Brown,
“but it’s onwards and upwards.”<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">A strong team of Kiwis
head to highly-ranked CCI4* at Luhmuhlen in Germany this week, including
Nicholson with Mr Cruise Control, Shady Grey and Calico Joe, along with Mark
Todd on Major Milestone.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Results - <br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">CIC3*: William Fox-Pitt
(GBR) Neuf des Coeurs 38.7 1, <strong>Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Nereo 42 2, </strong>Zara
Phillips (GBR) High Kingdom 43.2 3, <strong>Caroline Powell (NZL) Lenamore 45.3 4,
Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Avebury 46.1 5, Jonelle Richards (NZL) Flintstar 60.1
19, Lucy Jackson (NZL) Animator II 63.9 21, Lucy Jackson (NZL) Kilcoltrim
Ambassador 64.6 22, Jonathan Paget (NZL) Clifton Lush 72.3 30, Kate Wood (NZL)
Easy Tiger IV 95 50, Tim Price (NZL) Ringwood Sky Boy withdrawn.<br><br></strong></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">CCI3*: William Fox Pitt
(GBR) Chilli Morning 43.2 1, Pippa Funnell (GBR) Mirage D’Elle 53.8 2, Izzy
Taylor (GBR) Briarlands Matilda 54.6 3, <strong>Lucy Jackson (NZL) Willy Do 63.2 8,
Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Tristar II 68 11, Caroline Powell (NZL) Thornfield Jones
72.8 16, Craig Nicolai (NZL) Just Ironic 87.6 26.<br><br></strong></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">CCI3* Under 25: Astier
Nicholas (FRA) Piaf de Bneville 49.6 1, Laura Collett (GBR) Noble Bestman 51.8
2, Sarah Stretton (GBR) Skip On It 68.4 3, <strong>Lizzie Brown (NZL) Henton
Attorney General eliminated (in the cross country).<br></strong><br><br><br><em>- Diana Dobson<br>ESNZ Media Liaison</em></span><o:p></o:p></p>
