Equestrianism: Thomson narrowly headed

Mary Thomson and King Solomon were edged out of the cross- country lead at the Brittany Ferries French Trials yesterday by the Australian Olympic team gold medallist, Andrew Hoy, on Darian Powers, writes Jennifer Harry in Le Lion d'Angers. Thomson had shared the overnight lead with Mark Todd on Rhymin Lion, but went ahead during a deluge on the cross-country phase, battling through sheeting rain to add just 10 time penalties to her score.

The going was deep and slippery in places when Hoy challenged later, but the Australian took his eight-year-old at a blistering pace that Thomson dared not risk with her six-year-old. Hoy defied the rain to get round the course inside the optimum time.