SCOOP Olympic update, Monday 18 September,2000

SCOOP Olympic update, Monday 18 September, 2000
Article: Mathew Loh

MARK Tood riding Diamond Hall Red has boosted New Zealand's three day eventing equestrian hopes with a flawless cross-country run at Horsley Park.

After complaining bitterly about crowd noise - which he claims ruined his hopes of a good dressage by spooking his nervy thoroughbred - on day one Todd revealed his undoubted class to put his problems behind with an outstanding display of cross-country horsemanship.

Todd was elated with his mounts performance happily explaining: "It was a great ride out there. He (Diamond Hall Red) settled and finished very well".

Paul O'Brien on Enzed will also ride cross-country this morning with Vaughan Jeffers and Blyth Tait to ride this afternoon.

At the velodrome both New Zealand sprinters, Fiona Ramage and Anthoney Peden have qualified down the field in their respective events.

In the 4km mens pursuit Lee Vertongon, Tim Carswell, Gary Anderson and Greg Henderson maintained their ever improving form to qualify sixth for tonights quarter finals where they will face up against a formidable French foursome.

As evidence of the high quality in this event the three fastest qualifiers - Great Britain, Ukraine and France - all came under the previous Olympic record time.

In other New Zealand news this morning Karen Li had a straight sets win in the table tennis but is still unlikely to progress past the group stage while her teamate Peter Jackson is also struggling after losing 25-23, 21-18 23-21 to an Indian opponent. However the women's doubles team of Karen Li and her sister Li Chun Li still have medal hopes and play later tonight.

And from the pool the New Zealand disappointments continued when Helen Norfolk failed to better her own personal best in a poor 200 metre individual medal effort which saw her eliminated.

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