Nicholson in third at Bramham Horse Trials

Andrew Nicholson has assumed his customary position near the top of the leaderboard after the dressage phase of the CIC three-star class at the Bramham International Horse Trials in Yorkshire today.

New Zealand's top eventer will head into tomorrow's cross country in third position on his Olympics reserve horse Avebury and seventh on his top mount, Nereo, after both horses finished the dressage within 4.5 penalties of the leader, Britain's Laura Collett, who incurred 37.5 penalties on Rayef.

Her compatriot, Britain's world No 1 William Fox-Pitt, is second on Neuf Des Coeurs while Kiwi Lucy Jackson, who led after the first day of dressage, is fifth on Animator II.

Interestingly, Nicholson felt Nereo (42 penalties) went better than Avebury (40.5), as the former had to deal with muddy ground conditions toward the end of the day.

Caroline Powell is 17th on Lenamore and Jock Paget is 27th on Clifton Lush, the combination which won at Bramham last year.

In the headline CCI three-star, which has a longer course and more obstacles than the less-taxing CIC, Fox-Pitt is both first (Chilli Morning) and second (Avoca Alibi) while Jackson, who at this stage is just outside the probable Kiwi Olympic squad, third on Willy Do. Nicholson is 15th on Tristar II.

Likely Olympic squad member Clarke Johnstone was entered in the CIC on his top ride Orient Express but pulled out because the horse was not 100 per cent and he did not want to take any risks.

The cross country is tomorrow (NZT) and the showjumping on Monday.

- © Fairfax NZ News