Equestrianism: Todd fills hero's role: New Zealanders' day

NEW ZEALAND riders enjoyed a day of unprecedented triumph yesterday when they filled four of the top five places in the Badminton Three-Day Event, with Mark Todd again cast in the hero's role. The dual Olympic champion received the Mitsubishi Trophy after his commanding victory on a chance ride, the 16-year-old Horton Point. Todd was also fifth on Just an Ace.

The success of Horton Point was charged with emotion - not least for his regular Welsh rider, Lynne Bevan, who had broken her collar- bone a week earlier. Yesterday was, she said, the happiest day of her life. The horse has now retired from eventing but he may go show jumping after a well-earned rest.

Todd's only other victory here was in 1980. 'I've been waiting 14 years for another win,' he said, after retaining top place with a clear show jumping round. Two other New Zealanders - the world champion Blyth Tait on Delta III and Vaughn Jefferis on Bounce - also jumped clear rounds and moved up to take second and third places.

This was Tait's third Badminton and he has been runner-up each time. 'Perhaps I'll make the top one day, but this is better than being nowhere,' he said with a grin. Jefferis finished on the same score as the US rider, Bruce Davidson, but finished one place ahead of him by virtue of a faster cross-country time.

Yesterday's show jumping was to prove expensive for two Britons. Karen Dixon dropped from second to sixth (the best British placing) when Get Smart had three fences down. Mary Thomson went from third to 11th with five errors on King William, who has an infuriating tendency to lose his concentration when enclosed by an excited crowd in the stands.

BADMINTON THREE-DAY EVENT (Avon) Final positions: 1 Horton Point (M Todd, NZ) 41.4 penalties; 2 Delta III (B Tait, NZ) 53.8; 3 Bounce (V Jefferis, NZ) 57.0; 4 Eagle Lion (B Davidson, US) 57.0; 5 Just an Ace (Todd) 62.2; 6 Get Smart (K Dixon, GB) 63.4; 7 General Jock (K Gifford, GB) 68.65; 8 King's Jester (M Stibbe, Neth) 69.15. FEI Land Rover World Three-day Event Rider Rankings Leading positions: 1 M Todd (NZ) 190pts; 2 B Davidson (US) 167; 3 B Tait (NZ) 76.