Equestrianism: Pessoa strikes blow for Brazil

Superb performances from Brazil's world champion, Rodrigo Pessoa on Baloubet du Rouet, and Germany's holder of the European title, Ludger Beerbaum on Gladdys, left these greats of show jumping occupying the top two places in yesterday's Preis von Europa on the second day of the Aachen Nations Cup Show.

The rivalry between these two will no doubt continue through to the Grand Prix here on Sunday, when their countries will have an even more serious battle on their hands in Japan. The start of the Grand Prix will be earlier than originally scheduled, so that the football can be screened here between the two rounds.

Brazil prevailed in the show jumping yesterday, with Pessoa achieving a victory by 0.79 seconds over Beerbaum, with Belgium's Ludo Philippaerts on Parco 0.89sec behind the runner-up in third place. Britain failed to reach the jump-off, but there were two good rounds from Tim Stockdale on Parcival and Scott Smith on Cabri d'Elle, both of whom made a single error over the long 15-fence course. Michael Whitaker had two fences down on the inexperienced Landfurst – as did Richard Davenport on Grand Marnier and Mark Armstrong on Elise, both of whom exceeded the time.

Whitaker's more experienced, but problematical, Handel II will jump in the big class here today after which Derek Ricketts, Chef d'Equipe of the Great Britain team, will decide whether to include the stallion in the Quartet for tomorrow's Nations Cup. Ricketts, who is back here for the first time since being part of the winning team in the 1978 World Championships, was naturally cautious about Britain's prospects. "We haven't got four superstars, but we do have four good horses. They could go well if things go our way.''

This is bound to be the most significant competition for Ricketts before he selects the team for the World Equestrian Games to be held at Jerez de la Frontera in Spain in September. "Our best plan of attack is to select early, probably at the end of next month, so the riders have time to prepare their horses,'' he said.