Australian couple stay ahead

By Sophie Taylor

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Australia led mid-way through the cross-country leg of the equestrian eventing competition on Monday, Clayton Fredericks taking the individual lead on 53.40 penalties.

Australia were the top-ranked team on 162 penalties, with Germany second on 206.90 and Canada third on 287.

Fredericks's wife Lucinda is the other member of the Australian team, both making their Olympic debuts.

"I would have liked to have been 20 seconds faster and I probably would have been had I not knocked on the last alternative, but you know, a clear round was what we needed," Lucinda told reporters.

"Not super-human (effort), but not far off," said Britain's William Fox-Pitt, when asked what it would take to catch the Australians.

New Zealand's Mark Todd, riding in his sixth Olympics, racked up 76.60 penalties in his first eventing competition after an eight-year retirement.

China's Alex Hua Tian, American Amy Tryon and New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson fell from their horses and were disqualified.

Hua Tian, 18, slammed the ground with his hand in frustration after falling from Chico. He is the first Chinese three-day eventer to compete in the Olympics.

The rules have been changed to disqualify a rider if either horse or rider falls once, rather than twice, during a competition due to increasing safety concerns over cross country eventing.

(Editing by Ed Osmond) )