Equestrianism: Zoer records clear success

Genny Zoer, 22, collected the richest prize of her shw-jumping career when she rode Olympic Wendela to win the pounds 48,000 first prize in yesterday's Grand Prix of San Marino at the Pavarotti International Horse Show here. The Dutchwoman defeated her compatriot, the Olympic team gold medallist, Jos Lansink, on Optiebeurs Egano, who won this contest last year and was the only competitor left in the final jump-off.

'I was very pleased to be first into the jump-off,' Zoer said. 'Jos's horse is very fast and really careful so I knew I must go as quickly as I could.' Her clear round on the 12-year-old mare was swift enough to put pressure on Lansink and, when Egano lowered the fence into the final double, his slightly faster time was to no avail.

Though Zoer felt the going was much improved after three dry days here, the first round of the Grand Prix produced only four clears - from Wendela and Egano for the Netherlands, Willi Nelliger's Quinta C for Switzerland and Rodrigo Pessoa's Special Envoy for Brazil.

Nick Skelton's only error with the increasingly polished Everest Limited Edition came in the first round. He nevertheless finished fourth and won the award for leading rider of the show. Limited Edition took the award for the leading horse, and Britain won the Raymond Brooks-Ward Memorial Trophy for the leading team.

Skelton and David Broome, whose Ancit Countryman had just one error, were among the top 14 who contested the second round. John Whitaker also squeezed through with the fastest eight- fault round on Henderson Milton, who moved to ninth after a more characteristic clear round over the second course.

Although Whitaker failed to win a class during the meeting, he added pounds 9,000 prize money to the largest amount he has won in a single month, taking his winnings for September to pounds 172,000.

PAVAROTTI INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW (Modena, It): Grand Prix of San Marino: 1 Olympic Wendela (J Zoer, Neth) clear, 36.71sec; 2 Optiebeurs Egano (J Lansink, Neth) 4 faults, 34.99; 3 Moet & Chandon Quinta C (W Melliger, Swit) 4 in first two rounds, 83.42; GB: 4 Everest Limited Edition (N Skelton) 4, 83.72; 9 Henderson Milton (J Whitaker) 8, 81.93; 13 Ancit Countryman (D Broome) 12, 85.66. Take Your Own Line: 1 Olisco (M Matz, US) 39.64; 2 Legato (P Leone, US) 39.71; 3 Henderson Fonda (J Whitaker, GB) 39.94. Raymond Brooks-Ward Memorial Trophy (leading team): Great Britain. Volvo Trophy (leading rider): N Skelton (GB). Simod Trophy (leading young rider): R Pessoa (Bra). Palamat Trophy (leading woman rider): J Zoer (Neth). Testoni Trophy (most stylish rider): M Matz, US. Aqua Vera Trophy (leading horse): Everest Limited Edition (N Skelton, GB).