Fisher nets

James Fisher, the only rider from 32 starters to jump two clear rounds, won the principal class, the Classic, at the Royal Windsor Horse Show yesterday.

Just four qualified to jump off and Fisher, drawn first on Renville, turned quickly and came home clear in 39.73 seconds, fast enough to provoke mistakes from his rivals Michael Whitaker, second on Ashley, Rob Hoekstra, third on Pebble Beach, and Geoff Luckett, who had two down with Vantage to take fourth place.

Fisher, who particularly enjoys Windsor - it is almost his local show - was winning for the first time this week but took four classes last year. He bought Renville from Jan Tops as a four-year-old and this promising horse was winning his biggest class yet. Whitaker was equally pleased with Ashley, the former Wembley Foxhunter champion. Also eight, he has a great future.

Riders complimented the course which was, said Whitaker, "quite technical but flowing".