Equestrianism: Fuchs leads while France forge ahead

Markus Fuchs and the stallion Tinka's Boy hold a narrow advantage after yesterday's first showjumping contest at the World Equestrian Games, having completed a swift and determined clear round to defeat the Eric Levallois of France on Diamant de Semilly by 0.31 seconds.

France, with three riders in the top eight, lead the team title that they last won in Stockholm in 1990 at the first World Games. They are ahead of Germany, whose European champion, Ludger Beerbaum, jumped one of his inimitably polished clear rounds on Gladdys to move into third place individually. Otto Becker's mount, Dobel's Cento, proved none the worse for his alarming gallop around the arena with his bridle wrapped around his legs after a fall on Tuesday. Becker is now second best of the Germans in ninth place.

As was expected, the British, now lying 12th, have plenty of ground to make up going into today's two rounds, which decide the team results. Tim Stockdale was best of the quartet, with just one error on Fresh Direct Parcival, who was lying 27th at the end of yesterday's marathon speed contestbetween 97 horses. Mark Armstrong on Elise and Di Lampard on Abbervail Dream also made single errors to finish 43rd and 52nd respectively.

Scott Smith, who was fastest of the four Britons, incurred a 20-second penalty for lowering four fences on Cabri d'Elle and is in 65th place.

Ijsbrand Chardon of the Netherlands, who is aiming for his third individual world title, held the lead two-thirds of the way through the dressage phase of the driving championship, in which Britain's Barry Capstick and George Bowman are lying 12th and 14th. Bowman, a 67-year-old Cumbrian, is competing in his 15th world championships with his team of four sprightly black cobs.