Lampard secures European place

Equestrianism

Di Lampard made sure of a place on the British squad for this month's European Show Jumping Championships yesterday, when she and Abbervail Dream finished second in the Dibden Ford International Team Trial on the closing day of the New Forest and Hampshire County Show.

Lampard failed to halt John Whitaker's monopoly of the major prizes here, for the Yorkshireman defeated her with Virtual Village Randi to win the principal class for the third day running. He would have been runner-up as well, but for a quarter time fault in the first round and a rare jumping error in the second on Welham, with whom he won this year's Aachen Grand Prix. John Whitaker is bound to be selected for the European Championships and he has not chased points with much urgency in the team trials. Lampard, on the other hand, has been pursuing them for all she is worth in the knowledge that the top three on points will automatically be picked for the squad of five.

Yesterday Abbervail Dream made his only mistake when dropping a foot in the water in the first of two rounds over demanding courses which, according to Whitaker, were bigger than those built forthe first trial at Windsor in May.

This evening's Nations Cup at Gijon in Spain will be the last contest in which points can be earned. Both Michael Whitaker and Robert Smith could move into the lead with two good rounds, but no one else is in a position to overtake Lampard.

NEW FOREST AND HAMPSHIRE SHOW (Brockenhurst): Dibden Ford International Championship team trial: 1 Virtual Village Randi (J Whitaker) zero faults after 2 rounds; 2 Abbervail Dream (D Lampard) 4 faults; 3 Virtual Village Welham (J Whitaker) 4.25 faults; 4 Hello Oscar (G Glazzard), Tinto (G Goosen) and Clover Chief (G Luckett) 8 faults. Standings after four team trials: 1 Abbervail Dream (DLampard) 20pts; 2 Virtual Village Ashley (M Whitaker) and Primma (M Armstrong) 18.