JAMES Fisher, Britain's sole representative, pulled off a surprise win

in the Volvo World Cup Equestrian qualifier in Geneva yesterday.

The 32-year-old Berkshire rider landed a Volvo car when he won a

seven-horse jump-off with Bowriver Queen.

Fisher's success in the seventh of 14 European qualifiers was

Britain's second in the series, following Nick Skelton's victory in

Ireland last month.

Fisher's jump off clear in 44.4sec was 4.2 seconds faster than home

rider and runner-up Beat Maendli, on Joyride. Frenchman Michel Robert,

on San Patrignano Baby, was third.

But Germany's Ludger Beerbaum stays well ahead of the European league.

New Zealander Blyth Tait clinched the World Rider Rankings title for

the second time in three years as Britain's Karen Dixon failed in her

last-ditch attempt to overhaul him.

The 33-year-old Gloucester-based Tait finished second in the final

three-day event of a year-long series in Puhinui, in his native New

Zealand.

Dixon, 30, from County Durham, who needed a first or second place with

her borrowed ride Guess Again to take the coveted Land Rover title,

pulled out after two stops on the cross-country.