Equestrianism: Clear rounds maintain showjumpers form revival

Great Britain's showjumping team scored a resounding success in the Samsung Nations Cup at Lummen in Belgium yesterday, bringing their winning tally to two in five weeks following the breakthrough in Lisbon last month when they ended a two-year drought.

Clear rounds on the first circuit by Di Lampard on Abbervail Dream, Andrew Davies on Limbo V and William Funnell on Cortaflex Amber du Montois gave the team a shared lead with France and Germany at half-time.

The verdict hung in the balance throughout the second, decisive circuit as Lampard and Davies both made a single mistake, but Funnell, who was instrumental in the Lisbon victory on Amber, rose to the occasion with a superb display of horsemanship as he completed a double clear on Denise Stamp's difficult mare.

This left France, who had looked a threat, floundering with a two-fence deficit when Patrice Delaveau lowered three fences on Prascator Mail. They were relegated to second, just one fault ahead of Germany with the Netherlands finishing in fourth.

The result gives Britain valuable points towards standings in the Nations Cup Superleague, which seeds the leading countries for next year's Cup competitions and provides a boost for hopes at the Samsung Nations Cup of Great Britain at Hickstead's Golden Jubilee Royal International Horse Show on 24 July.