Equestrianism: Lansink drives to title

JOS LANSINK'S total domination of this year's Volvo World Cup final continued through to yesterday's closing contest here when he jumped two further clear rounds on Bollvorm's Libero for a decisive victory over Germany's Franke Sloothaak and Britain's Michael Whitaker.

The Dutchman received a rapturous ovation from his home crowd. He also won a car - his sixth since last October - and a total of pounds 86,000 in prize-money.

Lansink, 33, had not regarded Libero as his best horse, though that opinion has now been revised. Neither the injured Egano nor Easy Jumper, who were thought to have more scope, could have done more than the stallion who jumped clear in all five rounds of the World Cup.

Libero's athleticism saved him from one hairy moment at the penultimate fence when he dropped a hind leg between the poles of a triple bar at the second part of a double. Michael Whitaker, meanwhile, made a satisfying advance from equal sixth to finish third.

VOLVO WORLD CUP FINAL ('s Hertogenbosch, Neth) Second leg 1 Bollvorm's Libero (J Lansink, Neth) clear, 32.41s; 2 San Patrignano Weihaiwej (F Sloothaak, Ger) clear, 35.82; 3 Schalkhaar (E Macken, Irl) clear, 36.75. GB: 5 Everest Midnight Madness (M Whitaker) 4 faults, 32.91. Third leg: 1= Bollvorm's Libero and Priamos (D Hafemeister, Ger) 0 faults; 3 Apricot (H Simon, Aut) 0.25; 4= Everest Midnight Madness and San Patrignano Dorina (Sloothaak) 4. GB: J Whitaker failed to qualify. Final standings: 1 Lansink 0 faults; 2 Sloothaak 9.5; 3 M Whitaker 14; 4 Simon 14.25; 5 Hafemeister 16; 6 J Zoer (Neth) 18. GB: 9 N Skelton 20.5.