SCOOP Olympic Update, Monday 18 September, 2000

AFTER two individual pursuits yesterday Sarah Ulmer is primed for her clash with British cyclist Yvonne McGregor for bronze medal glory tonight. After Commonwealth Games heroics Ulmer thrives on pressure and is a big chance to earn New Zealand first Olympic medal.

Also looking in the medal stakes are the New Zealand equestrian team who are in third place after today's cross-country round of the three day eventing competition.

Mark Todd on Diamond Hall Red, Blyth Tait on Ready Teddy, and Vaughan Jeffers on Bounce all recorded flawless rides across country at Horsely Park and while Olympic debutant Paul O'Brien disappointed the Kiwi horsemen are only three rails behind second placed Great Britain going into Tueday's show-jumping competetion.

On the water the Soling class yachtsmen also performed impressively today to lay in second place after the first two races of competition.

However while our yachties and horesmen had a great day two New Zealand archers - Ken Pritchard and Peter Egden - were eliminated and our Tall Ferns women's basketball team were outclassed 101-62 by Korea to suffer their second consecutive defeat.

Meanwhile after Sunday night's close battle against Australia the White Sox women's softball team are in a 'must-win' position against Canada this evening and again will depend on the world class abilities of Gina Weber for success.

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