Bermuda's Tim Collins was riding high last night after yesterday's dressage event at the Pan American Eventing Championship in Maryland, USA.

Collins, who is looking to seal a place at next year's Olympic Games in Athens, is currently second in the individual standings after opening action at the Fair Hill International Festival.

Riding Delton Magna, Collins has 44.40 points, just behind Darren Chiacchia of New York on Windfall 2 who has 43.60. Nathalie Bouckaert of Georgia is third having scored 47.0 on West Farthing.

The United States Equestrian Team took the early lead in the team standings, their four riders scoring 170.0 in dressage to stand first ahead of Canada, who scored 186.2, and Brazil who are third with a score of 196.2.

No eventing competition was held at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo earlier this year and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) decided to hold the Pan American Eventing Championship in conjunction with the Fair Hill International. In addition to the team and individual medals, Olympic berths are also at stake for those countries not yet qualified for the 2004 Games.

The eventing competition continues today with the cross country phase and concludes tomorrow with the stadium jumping.