Equestrianism: Chardon leads close contest

Ijsbrand Chardon, of the Netherlands, holds a slender advantage over two other leading contestants in carriage driving – Christoph Sandmann from Germany and the defending champion, Tomas Eriksson from Sweden – after the completion of the marathon phase at the World Equestrian Games in Garrapilos yesterday. As they go into today's final obstacle phase back here at the main Chapin complex, where a single error will cost five penalties, there is a mere 1.37pt between the top three.

George Bowman, Britain's 67-year-old Cumbrian driver who has been runner-up for the world title on three occasions, missed his chance of going one better when one of his leaders reacted to the loudspeakers on three of the sections before they reached yesterday's eight hazards. Neptune, a seven-year-old Lusitano stallion who is usually level-headed, kept jogging when he should have been walking and cantering when he should have been trotting, so that Bowman had to be constantly checking. As a result he incurred 30 time penalties.

Though it was a pleasure to see his team whizz through the hazards, Bowman had no hope of making up lost ground. "I'll have to win my world championship next time," the former scrap metal processor said with a grin, referring to the 2004 contest that takes place in Hungary. The Netherlands now lead for the team title, followed by the United States, Germany and Sweden.

Britain's only hope of adding to their two three-day event medals now rests with the reining team, who have secured the last of five places in tomorrow's team final. They have no chance of defeating the United States and Canada, the clear favourites for a discipline which is based on skills that used to be required on a cowboy's horse. However, the marks were close enough in qualifying to suggest they could sneak into third place.

Britain will not be represented among the top 25 show jumpers who will be competing today for the four places in tomorrow's horse-swapping individual final. The powerful Germans, who finished fourth in the team final, must also have resigned themselves to going home without a show jumping medal. Otto Becker is their best placed rider in 14th; Ludger Beerbaum, who was fancied to add the world title to his European championship, is 19th.

Peter Wylde, now leading for the United States, will be anxious to retain a place among the top four. So will Eric Navet, part of the victorious French team, who is close behind him. Navet's mount, the stallion Dollar du Murier, could prove a problem for his opponents if he is among the final four.

WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES (Garrapilos, Spain): Driving (results after marathon): 1 I Chardon (Neth) 134.30 penalties; 2 C Sandmann (Ger) 135.57; 3 T Eriksson (Swe) 135.67. GB: B Capstick 122.94; K Bassett 127.04; R Lane 147.43. Teams (after marathon): 1 Netherlands 275.01 penalties; 2 US 284.57; 3 Germany 290.22.