Equestrianism: Britain a jump ahead

JOHN WHITAKER on Everest Milton and his brother Michael on Midnight Madness spearheaded a magnificent triumph for Britain at the Home Pride meeting here yesterday to help the team hold on to the Edward Prince of Wales trophy for the Nations Cup.

The Whitaker brothers each jumped a double clear round over what John described as 'the biggest Nations Cup course I have seen here for several years' to win by a secure three-fence margin from Germany and the Netherlands, who shared second place.

Backed up by David Broome, riding in his 113th Nations Cup event, and Lannegan, who made just one mistake in each round, the team led at half-time.

They were never headed although the Netherlands, with double clears from Roelof Bril on Bollvorm Let's Go and Jos Lansink - the Barcelona team gold medallist - on Easy Jumper, looked as if they were getting uncomfortably close until the other two riders each made three mistakes in the second round.

'This is a young man's game,' said Broome, 53, mopping his brow in the heat after his 113th Nations Cup. He had worked hardlike a demon to get the headstrong Lannegan in obedient shape for yesterday's massive challenge after an unpromising start to the meeting last Thursday.

Nick Skelton had two disappointing rounds of 12 faults apiece on Everest Limited Edition due, Skelton was sure, to the horse's crash at the water in last year's Derby. 'He remembers it,' Skelton said, 'I just couldn't get him to go properly after that.'

HICKSTEAD NATIONS CUP (Home Pride Nations Cup for Prince of Wales Trophy): 1 Great Britain (Everest Limited Edition (N Skelton) 12,12; Everest Midnight Madness (M Whitaker) 0,0; Lannegan (D Broom) 4,4; Everest Milton (J Whitaker) 0,0) 8 faults; 2= Netherlands and Germany 20; 4 Ireland 48; 5 Belgium 51 3/4 . Home Pride Chase: 1 Senator Hudson Boy (M Lucas, GB); 2 Carlingford Bay (G Mullins, Irl); 3 Satomi D'Arval (P Rozier, Fr).