Equestrianism: Nolan takes bold line to lead field

PIPPA NOLAN, the national open champion, riding the eight-year-old Cartoon II, going last of the 75 competitors, galloped into the lead at the Blenheim Audi International Horse Trials yesterday, writes Mary Gordon Watson.

Nolan, whose best results have been with the 15-year-old Sir Barnaby, rode boldly, taking most of the direct routes. Cartoon lost his confidence last year after a mishap at a water obstacle in Scotland and Nolan has done well to restore his enthusiasm. In today's showjumping, she has one mistake in hand over the Australian rider Felicity Cribb on Carmody Street. 'I'll need it,' she said. 'It's not his strong point.'

Mary Thomson, the overnight leader, played it cautiously on King Samuel, and a refusal at the bounce fence, No 20, and a slow time put paid to her chances.

Mike Etherington-Smith designed an ideal test of three-star status, and 13 nations took advantage of it. As he predicted, no one achieved the optimum time of 9min 45sec. Nolan was fastest, closely followed by Daisy Dick, who sped into fourth place on Little Victor. Rodney Powell had a fast ride on Limmy's Comet to be third.

Among those to pay dearly for loss of accuracy were the world champion, Blyth Tait, when Ricochet ducked out at fence 10, and Karen Straker lost her line on Park Keeper at fence 27.

BLENHEIM AUDI HORSE TRIALS: Results: 1 Cartoon II (Pippa Nolan) 53.8; Carmody Street (Felicity Cribb, Aus) 59; Limmy's Comet (Rodney Powell) 59.2; 4 Little Victor (Daisy Dick) 66.8; 5 Dunroaman Star (Susan Shortt, Irl) 69.4; 6 Kilbernie (Graham Law) 72.2.