Kiwis just Outside Top 10 at Luhmühlen 4

Andrew Nicholson and Armada are the best placed of the Kiwis at the Luhmühlen 4* three day event in Germany after the cross country course overnight.

Nicholson and the 12-year-old chestnut gelding Armada (owned by Paul Ridgeon) rode clear and inside time in the pouring rain over the Captain Mark Phillips (Great Britain) designed course to finish in 11th position.

He is also in 17th position on his other mount Mr Cruise Control (owned by Robin and Nicola Salmon), after picking up 20 faults for a refusal and four time on the penalties, with Caroline Powell and Mrs Tilly (owned by Camilla, Neil, Roy and Fiona Martin),in 14th on the back of their clear round.

Jonathan Paget and Clifton Lush (owned by Frances Stead and Lucy Allison) were eliminated at one of the 'problem' fences of the course after a fall. It was the same fence that caught Nicholson and Mr Cruise Control.

Paget and Lush were one of nine combinations to be eliminated or retired during the cross country, with three others withdrawn before the start. There were 19 clear rounds, 10 within the optimum time.

Piggy French (Great Britain) and Flying Machine have taken the lead, but it is extremely tight at the top of the leaderboard with just one rail covering the first four, and just two for the top seven. Each rail dropped during tonight's showjumping phase costs four faults, so the final phase is guaranteed to be exciting.

French, sitting on 38.4, has no room for error as she seeks her longed-for first CCI4* victory, with Sandra Auffarth (Germany) on Opgun Louvo just behind on 39, Andreas Dibowski (Germany) on Butts Leon on 40 and Frank Ostholt (Germany) on Little Paint on 42.1.

The event has attracted 43 combinations representing Australia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands and the USA.

Follow more information head to www.luhmuehlen.de and highlights on www.feitv.org.