Equestrianism: Irvine-Brown maintains her surprise lead

Jessica Irvine-Brown, who arrived here as an unknown 19-year-old from Australia, has retained her overnight lead in the Blenheim International Horse Trials.

The 47 riders who rode their dressage tests yesterday failed to get close to her score of 46.01 penalties on Belcam Aaberdeen, so the teenager still holds a 3.99-point advantage over the Frenchman and former European champion, Jean-Lou Bigot, who was lying second on Thursday night.

The whole field may now have difficulty in catching, let alone overtaking, the confident Irvine-Brown, who was close to gaining a place on the Australian squad for next week's World Equestrian Games. While others ponder the problems set by Mike Etherington-Smith on today's cross-country course, Irvine-Brown is simply longing to get out and jump them. You get the impression that she will be going for a swift round within the optimum time.

Another Australian, Clayton Fredericks, had the best of the dressage scores yesterday, when he moved into third place on the seven-year-old Ben Along Time. Milla Clayton-Bailey, now fifth, remains the best of the British – but she is now only 0.2 points ahead of Mary King, who moved into sixth place on King Richard yesterday.

Nine-year-old Richard was clear and within the cross-country time when he competed here last year, but had to be withdrawn before the show jumping when lying seventh because a nail hole had developed into a blood blister in his sole.

King, who has jumped in seven major championships, is the non-travelling reserve for the British squad who leave for the World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera on Monday. The lorry that will take all the gear to Spain for both riders and horses was packed up yesterday at Blenheim. Watching the familiar process, King admitted to a pang of regret at the thought of being left behind.