Equestrianism: Sizer sits tight for first title in trials

CAROLINE SIZER won her first three-day event when she partnered her chance ride, Barba's Star, to a clear show jumping round yesterday in the major Chubb Insurance section of the Windsor International Horse Trials.

Sizer was deputising for the owner, Kate Leslie, who broke her ankle in a schooling fall with the mare three weeks ago. "I was trying hard to keep calm," the 34-year-old Sizer said, after following a clear round in Saturday's cross-country with a faultless show jumping performance.

Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand, who finished just 1.6pts behind, was pleased to retain second on King Leo, who has a tendency to leave one or two show jumps on the ground. "Luckily they were quite low, so he could just step over them," Nicholson said. Steven James was close behind in third place on Streetwise IV, with Lucinda Fredericks hard on his heels on Dalliance.

The two leaders after the dressage had dropped out on Saturday. Terry Boon was forced to retire when Blue Admiral was lame before the cross- country. Richard Waygood, who completed the course without penalty, had the disappointment of withdrawing when holding a seven-point advantage on Crackerjack III, who was found to have damaged some ligaments in his left foreleg.

Polly Clark, who had the best dressage in the Masterpiece section, gave no one a chance to overtake her when she finished without time or jumping penalties in the cross-country and show jumping.

Clark was riding The Tonka Toy, who was originally bought six years ago as a hunter for her father. The versatile 13-year-old then went to Clark's brother for Pony Club tetrathlon and to her younger sister for junior eventing before she teamed up with him for an impressive win here.