Equestrianism: Funnell times it right

Pippa Funnell finished one second within the optimum time of 5min 32sec to win the advanced intermediate section of the South of England Horse Trials on Sue and Lizzie Bunn's home-bred stallion, Viceroy II. The timing was crucial, as Lucinda Fredericks finished on the identical score with Darasass, but she was eight seconds faster and therefore further away from the optimum. Josephine Marsh-Smith, just one point adrift on Albie O'G, finished third.

The advanced intermediate section featured the new dressage test, which incorporates four flying changes – two of them after four-loop serpentines in counter-canter. Entries were not as numerous as expected; according to one report, some would-be contestants had tried the new test at home and found it beyond them. Most of the 19 who did ride it looked decidedly tentative. The solitary exception was Funnell with Supreme Rock, who was here to do the dressage and show-jumping but not the cross-country. "I felt I had to ride the rest here on Rocky to get some experience", Funnell said, after giving a copybook exhibition for a score of just 29 penalties.

Since the test will be used at Badminton next month and at the World Equestian Games in September, riders will need to master it quickly.

Viceroy, the eventual winner, was 10 points behind Supreme Rock in the dressage before jumping clear rounds in the show-jumping and cross-country.