Equestrianism: Alves sets early pace to edge out British pair

Bernardo Alves, a 29-year-old Brazilian rider, rode Solitaire to a swift clear round and a split-second victory in yesterday's Steel City Shield, the opening contest of the British Open Show Jumping Championships at Hallam FM Arena. In the process he defeated two top British riders - William Funnell on Douglas Bunn's Buddy Bunn and Tim Stockdale on Fresh Direct Glenwood Springs.

Alves has some good previous form, having won team gold medals at the Pan American Games in 1995 and 1999. This year he was runner-up in the World Cup qualifier at Vigo in Spain. Drawn early in yesterday's class with the nine-year-old mare, Solitaire, Alves jumped clear in a time that none of his opponents could match.

Funnell came closest on Buddy Bunn, who was ridden by Douglas Bunn's daughter, Chloe, until this year. The 11-year-old could be a useful additions to Funnell's string, but the gelding cannot compensate him for the broken splint bone recently sustained by Mondriaan with whom he was aiming for an Olympic place until the horse was injured.

Tim Stockdale showed commendable concentration when finishing third on Glenwood Springs with whom he won the British Speed Stakes here last year. Stockdale had other things on his mind, for he was waiting for a call from Northampton General Hospital where his wife, Laura, was about to give birth to their second child.

The British Young Riders Classic rewarded 18-year-old Sophie Heaven with her biggest win to date. Riding Jurius, who was bought from Graham Fletcher, she jumped the faster of two clear jump-off rounds to defeat Gemma Plumley on Continue B by 1.05sec.

Heaven was riding round the collecting ring, knowing that she would be required for the prize-giving, when Louise Pavitt threatened to take over the lead on Make Haste V. Pavitt made some smart early turns and was more than five seconds ahead on time when, still shaving corners, she made her only error.

British Open Show Jumping Championships (Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield): Steel City Shield: 1 Solitaire (Alves, BR) clear, 33.29sec; 2 Buddy Bunn (W Funnell, GB) clear, 33.44; 3 Fresh Direct Glenwood Springs (T Stockdale, GB) clear, 35.08. British Young Riders Classic: 1 Jurius (S Heaven) clear, 38.39; 2 Continue B (G Plumley) clear, 39.44; 3 Make Haste V (L Pavitt) 4 faults, 33.28.