OLYMPICS: Showjumping star Billington aims to hit the heights in bid for gold IT'S Otto is a horse for an occasion -- and rider Geoffrey Billington is hoping the Sydney Olympics is the occasion when he really goes for gold.

The Accrington-born rider is taking his famous mount to his second Olympics to compete in the team and individual showjumping events.

And Geoffrey, the top ranked British rider in the world this year, knows he could return with two top prize medals.

"I think we stand a really good chance," said Geoffrey, who finished sixth in the individual event in Atlanta four years ago. "At 14, It's Otto is reaching his peak and he has learnt from going to Atlanta.

"Perhaps he was a little bit inexperienced then but when he goes into the arena and the crowds will be cheering, he'll just love it. He loves the big occasions and will play it for all its worth."

The horse and rider have been together since It's Otto was six when Geoffrey, now 45, bought him from Holland.

It turned out to be a superb bit of business as It's Otto won the "Outstanding Horse of 1996" and is currently ranked one of the best horses in the world.

"He's fantastic and is improving all the time. l knew he was special," said Geoffrey with obvious pride.

"There is a list of horses and It's Otto has been in the top 10 for the last five years. This has been my full-time job since I left school and I've had some good horses, but he is world class." Geoffrey and It's Otto, based in Nantwich in Cheshire, make up a team aiming to topple World Champion, Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa, in the individual event.

But he is also confident the team of four can grab gold off Olympic champions Germany.

It is quite a tall order with Geoffrey's trophy cabinet so far containing just two championship medals -- two bronzes from the European Championships in 1997 and the World Championships in 1998.

But he firmly believes the Great Britain showjumping team can come up with the goods.

"A lot of it is about luck. One knock down, one refusal and that can be it but if it's our day, then we stand a great chance."

Geoffrey will be competing with his long time friends, brothers John and Michael Whitaker who will ride 11-year-old Calvaro ('a big stallion' says Geoffrey) and nine-year-old Prince of Wales.

These two are vastly experienced showjumpers and have been on the medal podium before as a team in the Olympics -- but that was way back in 1984 when they picked up a silver medal.

And they will be joined by "the baby" of the team, 37-year-old Carl Edwards from Ellesmere on Bit More Candy.

"Winning gold in the individual or the team event will be the pinnacle of my career," admitted Geoffrey.

"It is the top sporting achievement, you can travel round and gain financial reward but a gold medal is the ultimate achievement.

"And I think we have a strong enough team, with the experience and the horses, to win it."

Geoffrey has been parted from It's Otto for the last few weeks. The horse has been in quarantine in Nottingham for two weeks and, after he was flown out to Sydney with the other Olympic horses last Wednesday, he will be spending another two weeks in quarantine there.

"It's just the Australian rules but It's Otto is used to travelling and used to different stables.

"We can still ride him and practise on him and then, once quarantine is up, he'll be moved into the special stables while we move into the Olympic village," added Geoffrey, whose event will take place at the aptly-named Horsley Park.

Geoffrey flew out on Monday and will be competing in the first leg of the individual and team events on September 25, then it's the final of the team event on September 28 and finally on October 1 its the individual final.

But first Geoffrey's looking forward to taking part in the opening ceremony and has one lasting memory from Atlanta.

"I got to see Mohammed Ali. Nobody knew he would be there and it was such a highlight. It is something I'm sure I won't see again. For me he is the all-time all-round sportsman and it was fantastic to see how brave he was despite the Parkinson's disease.

"I don't know who will be there this time, but taking part in the ceremony is a huge experience."

And, along with the equestrian events, Geoffrey's going to try and see a few other Olympic sights.

"You get an admission pass but it's only for the showjumping arena so I'm hoping to buy a few tickets to the other events, the athletics and swimming.

"I won't be taking my family this time. I took them to Atlanta but I'll be training or competing all the time. They can watch me on television. I just hope I'm not watching the final event on television as it means I'm out!" Armchair guide to showjumping The team showjumping event covers a distance of around 600m containing 12-15 obstacles. With four competitors, the lowest three scores count in the team event.

Penalties are: four for knock down, three for first refusal, six for second refusal and time penalties.

The three best riders scored are added together to produce the winner. If it's a draw, a jump off against the clock over six obstacles will decide the winner.

The individual event consists of two rounds. The first has 10-12 obstacles and the second is over a different course. Final placings are decided by adding together the penalties incurred in both rounds.