Equestrianism: Liebherr shows no mercy once more

Christina Liebherr, who held the lead for Switzerland after last year's opening speed leg of the European Championships, proved that LB No Mercy still has a smart turn of foot when winning yesterday's Preis von Nordrhein-Westfalen at the Aachen Super League Show in Germany.

This result was in stark contrast to Liebherr's experience here last year, when she left the arena on a stretcher after a heavy fall. Yesterday it was Brazil's Alvaro Miranda who took a hideous fall, being dragged along the ground underneath his horse before he was driven away with a suspected leg injury.

Germany's Marcus Ehning displayed the happier side of show jumping's ups and downs in finishing second on Noltes Kuchengirl, the mare who was eliminated in all three rounds of the European Championships last year.

Tim Stockdale decided to miss this class in favour of giving Roland an easier task today. His Olympic mount – the grey mare Fresh Direct Corlato – will, however, contest the toughest class of all in tomorrow's Rolex Grand Prix. "It will be her last run before Hong Kong," Stockdale said.

Germany's Bettina Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo occupied their usual lead after the dressage phase of the DHL Prize for eventing, with France's Nicolas Touzaint a close second on Joker d'Helby.

Georgie Davies was best of the five British women competing in this contest. Davies, who rode the same mare, Fachoudette, to one of the only two clear rounds that were in the time at Badminton this year, is among the Olympic reserves.