Avril Johnston leads Windsor Horse Trials

Equestrianism

Avril Johnston was the unexpected leader in the international section of the Windsor Horse Trials yesterday, riding a horse called Independent Archie who was once "going to get the bullet" because no one could break him in. Last year's winner, Pippa Funnell, who had held the advantage for most of the day on Rainbow Magic, made second place and Daisy Dick (whose father, Dave, won the Grand National 40 years ago) is now third on For the Crack. Funnell may take up the running again when she rides her second horse, Marshlands Rubio, in the dressage arena today. Either way, Funnell will out to prove the worth of her recent cross-country lessons with Mark Phillips when she tackles the cross-country course on her two mounts tomorrow.

WINDSOR INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS (BERKS) Standings after first day of dressage: International section: 1 Independent Archie (A Johnston) 48.0 pens; 2 Rainbow Magic (p Funnell) 48.8; 3 For the Crack (D Dick) 53.8; 4= Red Baron III (E Douglas-Miller), Canadian Gold (J Johnson) 55.4; 6 Attwoods Hot Lad (C Passmore) 57.4. National section: 1 Racketeer (H Bell) 46.6; 2 Mister Macavity (R Durrand) 50.0; 3 Welton Crack On (S Waters) 52.4.