Equestrianism: Lyon keeps teacher at bay

Polly Lyon retained her overnight lead on Wat Tyler in the International Section of the Windsor Horse Trials where her trainer, Angela Tucker, was in third place on Much the Best at the conclusion of the dressage phase.

Tucker, who is one of the three British selectors, was a member of the ground jury which judged the dressage at Badminton earlier this month. Her husband, Mike, is also heavily involved in the sport as a television commentator and course designer. This year he will be responsible for the course at the European Open Three-Day Event Championships at Burghley.

Lyon, who spent a year with the Tuckers after winning a Subaru scholarship, still goes to Angela for training when the need arises. But the teacher proved that she can still ride a good test herself when she moved into third, just 0.6pt behind the Dutchman Eddie Stibbe who retained second place.

Tucker's eight-year-old mount, Much the Best, is competing in his third three-day event. He had a fall at the last fence at Necarne in 1995 and a refusal when stuck in the mud jumping up steps at Blair last year. According to Mike Tucker, the horse is "ready to have a crack" over today's cross- country.

Pippa Funnell, winner of the International Section here for the last two years, is back in 36th place on her chance ride, Witch Way. She had not expected anything more of the inexperienced nine-year-old mare, having come here for fun rather than entertaining hopes of a Windsor hat-trick.

CHUBB INSURANCE WINDSOR INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS (Berks) Standings after dressage: International Section: 1 Wat Tyler (P Lyon, GB) 47.6 penalties; 2 Kilkea Castle (E Stibbe, Neth) 49.2; 3 Much the Best (A Tucker, GB) 49.8; 4 Rhymin Lion (A Verdina, It) 51.0; 5 Hupfender Stein (N Kreigisch, Ger) 51.6; 6 Night Flight VII (L Murray, GB) 55.6. Masterpiece National Section: 1 Holdfast Brigadier (J P Sheffield) 48.6; 2 Capuchin (C Phillips) 54.2; 3 Chappaqua (J Robinson) 54.6. British Junior Championship: 1 Hasty Arrival (H West) 46.2; 2 Knockaneven (H Wilson) 53.6; 3 Purdie's Promise (P Jackson) 54.6.