EQUESTRIAN:Jonty Evans has made the best possible start on his debut at the prestigious Badminton three-day event, slotting into equal 10th after the first day of dressage at the British fixture.

The 35-year-old has always been a strong performer in dressage, but the atmosphere that surrounds the Badminton arena can upset the equilibrium. There was no sign of nerves in either Evans or the 14-year-old Irish sport horse Cregwarrior yesterday, however, and their mark of 49.4 leaves them 14.6 penalties off the leaders, Australia's Lucinda Fredericks and the 2006 Burghley winner Headley Britannia.

Austin O'Connor, who finished fourth at Badminton in 1999, was well up the order in seventh at the lunch break, but had slid to 18th at the close of play.

Sarah Wardell, the only other Irish contender in the 77-horse field, makes her appearance in the dressage arena today.