Equestrianism: Nolan rides high

PIPPA NOLAN, the leading rider of the 1992 horse trials season, received the Tony Collins Memorial Trophy at Lord's Conference Centre in London yesterday, writes Genevieve Murphy.

The awards were made during the Horse Trials Group Annual Conference which, despite many references to the tough economic climate, suggested that British eventing is still flourishing.

The many overseas riders who now compete here will, however, have to pay for the privilege with the introduction of a 'foreign rider's licence' costing pounds 500 for a full year or pounds 300 for six months.

Mark Todd, New Zealand's double Olympic champion, is among those who will have to cough up. The loss of his sponsorship from Kimberly-Clark, which was also announced yesterday, will have made the new licence even more unwelcome.

Todd is likely to find some radical changes to the sport in Atlanta in 1996. Hugh Thomas, who has been appointed as Technical Delegate to the Olympic Three-Day Event there, described the heat and humidity of the venue as being in a different league to Barcelona.

'Modifications will be necessary,' Thomas said, referring to a reduction in the overall length of the speed, endurance and cross- country phase. 'We must err on the side of caution to devise a test that is reasonable, fair and sensible.'

1992 HORSE TRIALS GROUP AWARDS: Tony Collins Memorial Trophy (leading rider): P Nolan. Calcutta Light Horse Trophy (leading horse): King William. Edy Goldman Trophy (leading Under-21 rider): K Gifford. Martin Whiteley Trophy (leading rider yet to represent Britain): C Hollingsworth. Sir John Burdon Trophy (highest placed British rider in Young Riders European Championship): E-J Jones. Hubert Allfrey Trophy (highest placed British team member in Junior European Championships): S Peacock.