Mark Todd still turns heads

Mark Todd made it look so easy today.

He and NZB Gandalf won the eventing challenge by a rail at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings today.

Todd was lying second after the dressage, with John Twomey on Flaunt It in the front.

The dapple grey NZB Gandalf rattled a rail on his way around the course but finished well inside the time allowed with nothing on the ground.

Todd was pleased with how he and NZB Gandalf are starting to work together but was quick to point out that it was too early to say whether the horse had a "wow factor".

Former Olympian Todd's presence at the Kelt Capital show is drawing plenty of excitement.

When he enters a ring, a hush grips the crowd as people crane their necks and jostle for position to get the best view of him.

"The reaction to my coming back to compete is quite amazing," said Todd, who recently decided to come out of retirement and ride again.

"It is fantastic that everyone is getting so much enjoyment but it is still very early days yet."

Eventing New Zealand team manager and high performance director Blyth Tait is pleased with Todd's progress.

"If you could write a script you could say it is going to plan," he said.

Next stop for Todd is next week's Puhinui Three-Day Event in Auckland, where he will continue to chase qualifying scores for the Olympics.

Meanwhile, young Mathew Dickey (New Plymouth) has plenty to celebrate after taking first and third places in the Pony of the Year class.

The head prefect at Spotswood College had two of the three horses in the jump-off.

Reigning Pony of the Year title holder Charlotte Myers (Hawera) and Miss Coruba stumbled after the second fence but quickly regained their footing to fly home clear in 38.53sec.

Dickey then brought out his grey Co Calico and despite a firm rub of one rail, managed to stop the clock clear in 37.83sec.

With only himself to beat, he came back out with the little palomino Wilful, and after stumbling at that second fence, went for a steady clear and came home in 40.45sec.

Wilful had earlier won the Pony Show Hunter of the Year award.

New Zealand couldn't replicate their win from yesterday in the second round of the Tri-Nations today, but still hold a two-point lead going into the final day tomorrow.

It came down to a jump-off once again, this time it was South Africa and New Zealand tied on eight faults apiece, forcing two from each of the four-man teams to jump-off against the clock.

South Africa's Loretta Knowles-Taylor laid down the challenge, going clear in 35.57sec, followed by New Zealand's Anna Trent, who was also clear but slightly slower in 36.19sec. South Africa's Barry Taylor stepped it up even more coming home in 34.17sec, leaving it to reigning Horse of the Year title holder Oliver Edgecombe who couldn't match it, and dropped the last rail.

South Africa won, with New Zealand second and Australia third.

In the Tri Nations dressage, South Africa held on to their lead in the series, but New Zealand managed to move up into second place, leaving Australia third.

The Horse of the Year Show culminates tomorrow with the Bell Tea Olympic Cup being presented to the showjumper of the year, along with a cheque for $120,000.

Twenty-two of the nation's best, including internationals John Whitaker and his niece Ellen Whitaker, have entered.

Both the Whitakers look highly likely to ride for Great Britain in the Olympics this year.

-NZPA