Seven weeks after winning Burghley, Andrew Nicholson added another four-star victory to his collection, taking the CCI*** at Pau on Deborah Sellar’s Nereo.
“To win one four-star in 10 years is amazing, so to win two in two months is an unbelievable feeling,” he said.
He was the only rider to finish on his dressage score – 39.3 – at the French competition.
His fellow member of the New Zealand bronze medal-winning team at the London Olympics, Jonathan Paget, led after cross-country but hit one showjump to finish second on Clifton Promise.
The Olympic champion Michael Jung also knocked one showjump down and collected one time-fault on Leopin FST to take third place for Germany.
Britain’s William Fox-Pitt was fourth and fifth on Bay My Hero and Chilli Morning. He dropped one pole on the former and just picked up a single time-penalty on the latter.
Astier Nicolas was the best-placed French rider in sixth after knocking one fence down but also collecting four time-faults on Jhakti Du Janlie.
Andrew Nicholson was back in the prizes, seventh on the giant grey Mr Cruise Control, while his Kiwi compatriot Caroline Powell rolled one pole for eighth on the nine-year-old Onwards And Upwards.
Leicestershire-based Richard Jones was the second best Brit in ninth place on Highland Ford, another just to hit one fence.
And Gemma Tattersall completed the top 10 on Stormhill Kossack despite four fences down and two time-faults. She did, however, produce the first clear showjumping round of the day on Kings Gem, 28th after a run-out cross-country.
Pau CCI**** final results
1. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Nereo 39.3
2. Jonathan Paget (NZL) Clifton Promise 40.7
3. Michael Jung (GER) Leopin FST 43.3
4. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Bay My Hero 45.7
5. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Chilli Morning 45.7
6. Astier Nicolas (FRA) Jhakati Du Janlie 47.5
7. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Mr Cruise Control 49.7
8. Caroline Powell (NZL) Onwards And Upwards 57.2
9. Richard Jones (GBR) Highland Ford 63.6
10. Gemma Tattersall (GBR) Stormhill Kossack 68.5
