Equestrianism: Lansink has the edge: World Cup final

JOS LANSINK, of the Netherlands, built on his overnight lead in the Volvo World Cup final here riding Bollvorm's Libero to another marvellous victory in last night's second leg of the contest. The Dutchman goes into tomorrow's third leg with the advantage over Germany's Franke Sloothaak and Britain's Nick Skelton. Michael Whitaker advanced from overnight 15th to equal sixth place, behind Ireland's Eddie Macken.

Whitaker, riding Everest Midnight Madness, was among the seven riders who jumped clear in last night's opening round. A mistake at the second jump-off fence meant that the Briton could not win this second leg, but he had the fastest time until Lansink conjured another dynamic performance from the ebullient stallion, Libero.

Slower clears from Sloothaak on San Patrignano Weihaiwej, Macken on Schalkhaar and Canada's Jay Hayes on Raven, left Whitaker fifth in last night's contest and equal sixth overall. He was content with that, having survived one drastic moment in the first round when Midnight Madness, apparently disconcerted by a ringside television camera, dived to the left before turning to the eighth. The rider had no more than a couple of strides to straighten the horse up for this obstacle, which he cleared.

VOLVO WORLD CUP FINAL Second leg (Hertogenbosch): 1 Bollvorm's Libero (J Lansink, Neth) clear, 32.41sec; 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. Standings after second leg: 1 Lansink 0 faults; 2 Sloothaak 5.5; 3 N Skelton (GB) 8.5; 4= Macken and M Leone (US) 9.5; 6= M Whitaker (GB) and J Zoer (Neth) 10. GB: 33 J Whitaker 31.5.