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If the great Eventing countries were worried before, now they know for a certainty that New Zealand's Blyth Tait is at the top of his game! Blyth won his second red ribbon in as many days, this time with Eze, in the the CIC/OG***.

Two rounds of Show Jumping, for the leading individuals, were used in the CIC/OG***, as they will be in the Olympic Games.

After the first round Andrew Hoy (AUS) and Master Monarch had one rail for a score of 46.8, to retain the lead. Blyth Tait (NZL), with Eze, also had one rail to retain his second place on 49.0. However, in the second round of Show Jumping Blyth and Eze jumped clean to win on a final score of 49.0 ,while Andrew and Moonfleet pulled two rails to drop to second over all on 54.9.

The top six scores after the first and second rounds of Show Jumping were as follows:

1. Blyth Tait (NZL) , Eze - 4 plus 0 = 49.0
2. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Moonfleet - 4 plus 8 = 54.8
3. Naill Griffin (IRE), Lorgain - 0 plus 0 = 61.2
4. Sasha Harrison (IRE), - 0 plus 0 = 66.4
5. Wendy Schaeffer (AUS), Koyuna Sun-Glo, 0 plus 0 = 67.0
6. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Master Monarch, 8 plus 4 = 68.4

8. Abigail Lufkin (USA), Better I Do It, 4 plus 4 = 72.2

Polly Stockton (GBR) with drew Sir Launcelot, third after the second day, before Show Jumping. Rodney Powell (GBR) withdrew Flintstone, fourth after the second day, before Show Jumping.

CIC/OG*** Team Results:

1. Australia - 178.2
2. Ireland 1 - 205.0
3. Ireland 2 - 222.0
4. Kiwi Fruit - 1,118.0 (3 withdrawals)
5. United Team - 1,191.2 (2 withdrawals and 1 retirement on "D")

* * * * * * * *

Sunday, June 6th - CCI*** Final

Warning to all Olympic Eventing Countrys: Blyth Tait and Ready Teddy, already Olympic Individual Gold Medalists, at Atlanta, 1996, and World Championship Individual Gold Medalists, at Pratoni del Vivaro, 1998, are back! They triumphed Sunday at the Punchestown CCI*** and very likely, along with Andrew Nicholson, will lead the New Zealand Team at Athens. Australia, France, Great Britain and the USA had better be honing their Dressage work and slipping in that extra gallop or two because one of the best combinations in the world will be waiting in Athens!

Blyth and Ready Teddy, who led throughout the competition, Show Jumped clean to finish on 47.6.

Brits Polly Stockton with Tom Quigley (50.8) and Chris King riding Peaceful Warrior (52.0) each finished on their Dressage scores for second and third place.

MJ Tumbridge, who rides for Bermuda while residing in the UK, had one rail down with Ginger May Killinghurst for a final score of 57.2 and fourth place.

Lucy Wiegersma, who had been second throughout, had two rails down to drop to fifth with Shabraak (58.4), while Ned Spratt riding Haka (58.6) had one rail down and finished 6th for New Zealand.

The highest placed Irish rider was Michael Ryan with Old Road. This pair were eighteenth after Dressage, had 3.2 time faults Cross Country and one rail in Show Jumping for a final score of 79.2 and 11th place.

The top six finishers were:

1. Blyth Tait (NZL), Ready Teddy - 47.6
2. Polly Stockton (GBR), Tom Quigley - 50.8
3. Chris King (GBR), Peaceful Warrior - 52.0
4. MJ Tumbridge (BER), Ginger May Killinghurst - 57.2
5. Lucy Wiegersma (GBR), Shabraak - 58.4
6. Ned Spratt (NZL), Haka - 58.6

11. Michael Ryan (IRL), Old Road - 79.2

* * * * *

Sunday, June 6th - CIC-OG*** Cross Country

Andrew Hoy (AUS) continues to lead the CIC/OG*** Division at Punchestown after the Cross Country Phase with Moonfleet on a double clear for a score of 42.8. Andrew is also in fifth place with Master Monarch (56.4).

Grania Willis reported about Moonfleet, in The Irish Times of Saturday, June 5th:

"Sue Magnier, (better known for her racing interests) bought Moonfleet as an expensive three-year-old at the Derby Sales in Tattersalls a decade ago. But the Strong Gale gelding failed to shine on the point-to-point field and, after falling on his second outing ,,,, was switched to eventing.

"His early tuition came at the hands of Coolmore's financial administrator Jerome Casey but, after a meeting with Andrew Hoy five years ago, there was another jockey change and the horse moved to Hoy's base at Gatcombe, in Gloucestershire.

"He has had a chequered career since, winning at Luhmuhlen in Germany two years ago, but then falling at the fifth fence at the world equestrian games in Spain later that summer.

"A stop at Badminton last spring was followed by an extended period off the road when the horse was so lame that Hoy was convinced it had broken a bone in its foot.

"Hoy has three horses qualified for Athens and still hasn't decided which he'll use in the bid for Australia's fourth consecutive team gold, but a win for Moonfleet at Punchestown could clinch the trip for the Irish-bred."

Kiwi Blyth Tait maintained his second place with Eze (45.8), also on a double clear.

For the British, Polly Stockton, fourth after Dressage, moved up to third on a double clear with Sir Launcelet (51.6) while Rodney Powell and Flinstone moved from sixth to fourth with Flintstone (55.4) also on a double clear.

Susanna Bordone (ITA), 3rd after Dressage, and Andrew Nicholson, 5th after Dressage, were both eliminated in Cross Country.

The top six in the CIC/OG*** after Cross Country are:

1. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Moonfleet - 42.8 (DC)
2. Blyth Tait (NZL), Eze - 45.8 (DC)
3. Polly Stockton (GBR), Sir Lancelot - 51.6 (DC)
4. Rodney Powell (GBR), Flintstone - 55.4 (DC)
5. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Master Monarch - 56.4 (DC)
6. Naill Griffin (IRL), Lorgaine - 57.2 (DC)

10. Abigall Lufkin, Better I Do It, 64.2 (4.0 time faults XC)

The Team Results after Cross Country were:

1. Australia - 168.2
2. United Team - 171.2
3. Ireland 1 - 185.0
4. Ireland 2 - 200.0
5 Kiwi Fruit - 1,100.0 (three mambers were eliminated)

At 5:00 PM EDST (10:00 PM Irish Time) no other results were available.

* * * * *

Saturday, June 5th - CCI*** Cross Country

New Zealand's dounle World Champion and Olympic Individual Gold Medalist Blyth Tait, riding his now 16 year old partner from two of these past triumphs Ready Teddy, maintained his lead in the Punchestown CCI*** after the Cross Country Phase. The pair picked up .8 of a fault on the Steeplechase and ran clean after that to finish on 47.6.

Lucy Wiegersma (GBR) and Shaabrak maintained their second position, adding 1.60 faults on the Cross Country, for a final score of 50.4, still with a rail if the leaders, heading to the Show Jumping.

Two Brits with double clears are third and fourth: Polly Stockton and Tom Quigley (50.8) and Chris King riding Peaceful Warrior (52.0).

Bermuda's MJ Tumbridge, once a familiar name at American events, before she moved permanently to England, and the Individual Gold Medalist at the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, in 1999, is fifth on a double clear with Ginger May Killinghurst (57.4).

Lucinda Fredericks (AUS) who had been equal third after Dressage withdrew Headley Brittania before Phase "A". Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Early Times, 5th after Dressage, retired on Cross Country.

The top six after the Endurance Phase are:

1. Blyth Tait (NZL), Ready Teddy - 47.6
2. Lucy Wiegersma (GBR), Shaabrak - 50.4
3. Polly Stockton (GBR), Tom Quigley - 50.8
4. Chris King (GBR), Peaceful Warrior - 52.0
5. MJ Tumbridge (BER), Ginger May Killinghurst - 53.2
6. Ned Sprat (NZL), Haka - 57.4