Latta's good News

EQUESTRIANISM

BY GENEVIEVE MURPHY

Victoria Latta holds a slender lead in the Toyota Bramham Three-Day Event following the first day of dressage. The New Zealand rider, partnering Broadcast News, had an advantage of just 0.4pt over the three home riders in equal second, Anne-Marie Evans, Sophie Newman and Emma Douglas Miller.

Latta, a qualified barrister and solicitor, is currently based at Gatcombe Park, but this is likely to be her last year in England. If shortlisted for next year's Olympics in Atlanta with Broadcast News, she will probably take the horse to a new base in the United States in March. Latta finished fourth in the last Olympic Games with her long-standing partner, Chief.

Anne-Marie Evans, who competed in Australia as a member of the British squad for the 1986 World Championships, is pleased to be climbing back up the eventing ladder with Dutch Treat. The 10-year-old grey gelding is a son of Dutch Cour-age, Jennie Loriston-Clarke's former dressage stallion.

Sophie Newman is riding McRaffles - a horse whose eventing career might well have ended in 1991 when he broke his stifle (knee) at the Young Riders' European Championship in Turin. Newman stayed in Italy for three months, taking odd jobs until the chestnut was fit to return home.

TOYOTA BRAMHAM THREE-DAY EVENT (Bramham Park, Yorks): Standings after first day of dressage: 1 Broadcast News (V Latta, NZ) 50.2 penalties; 2= Dutch Treat (A-M Evans, GB), McRaffles (S Newman, GB ), Making Cents (E Douglas Miller, GB) 50.6; 5 Thira's Flame (J Baker, GB) 50.8; 6 Bermuda Option (M-J Tumbridge, Berm) 53.8.