Equestrianism: Tait aims to secure advantage

BLYTH TAIT, New Zealand's world three-day event champion, has the chance to become unbeatable on this year's world rankings when he rides Delta at the Burghley Remy Martin Horse Trials which begin today in Lincolnshire.

Tait extended his lead on the rankings when finishing sixth on Ricochet at Blenheim last weekend. Another high placing with the New Zealand-bred mare, Delta, could put him out of reach of Mary Thomson and Pippa Nolan who hold the next two places.

Thomson will not be competing at Burghley but Nolan, the new British national champion, does have the opportunity to close the gap between herself and the New Zealander when she rides Metronome and Heron's Flight (who were first and seventh at Bramham in June) at the Lincolnshire fixture. But even if Nolan wins she cannot overtake Tait this weekend.

Tait's mount, Delta, is up for sale. The rider, despite his world title and some help from his Toggi sponsors, cannot afford to buy her. The best Tait can hope for is that Delta's owner, Joanne Shepherd, succeeds in attracting a syndicate of owners who would want to leave this talented mare with him.

Lucinda Green, the former world and European champion as well as the victor at Badminton on six occasions, is hoping to make a comeback at Burghley. She rides Ernie Fenwick's Up River, who went well for her when finishing third at Gatcombe last month.

However well Green does, she will have to be wary of the last four riders in the draw. Australia's Greg Watson and Chaka, last year's runners-up, are fourth last to go. They will be followed by Karen Dixon (who had the best British score when finishing sixth with Get Smart at the Olympics) on Stepney Bartholemew, Tait on Delta and Nolan on Heron's Flight.

FEI WORLD THREE-DAY EVENT RANKINGS: 1 B Tait (NZ) 289 pts; 2 M Thomson (GB) 260; 3 P Nolan (GB) 179.