Ellen Whitaker in pole position to take showjumping title

The 24-year-old from Barnsley moved into a share of the lead with her cousin Robert Whitaker after two of the four competitions which will decide this year's overall winner.

Robert, who is seeking a hat-trick of British Open titles at the LG Arena, had to be content with third place following his victory in last night's opening speed class.

But there was no stopping Ellen on Equimax Ocolado, as they triumphed in an exciting 11-competitor jump-off.

The combination clocked 39.19 seconds, edging Germany's Daniel Deusser and Cabreado into second spot just 0.19 of a second behind, with Robert Whitaker (USA Today) finishing on 40.01.

Norway's Geir Gulliksen (L'Espoir) was fourth, while Belgian challenger Wilm Vermeir (Beradien van Westuur) fifth and Ireland's Shane Breen (Mullaghdrin Gold Rain) sixth.

Fancied British pair Ben Maher and Guy Williams though, finished down the order tonight as the Whitakers opened up a commanding overall lead.

They are tied on 1.5 points going into tomorrow afternoon's third British Open round - another speed class - with Breen in third on 6.0, ahead of Gulliksen and Holland's Eric van der Vleuten.

The leading 20 combinations after tomorrow's competition will qualify for the final on Saturday night, chasing a 25,000 British Open first prize.

Belgian Dirk Demeersman, meanwhile, won the opening international class on day two. Demeersman, riding Tymoon Caloo Meerchen, landed The Equiport Classic in emphatic fashion.

The one round speed class format saw them triumph by almost four seconds from British challengers Tina Fletcher (Promised Land) and John Whitaker (Argento), who finished joint-second in a time of 59.10.

Ellen Whitaker and CS Online were fourth, clocking 59.42, with Michael Whitaker and GIG Rockim fifth.

Elsewhere, Southampton rider Sam Hutton landed the PCA Rising Stars Championship and a first prize of 1,500 on board Astral 57.

Their jump-off time of 38.74 seconds was more than a second clear of runners-up Joe Clayton and Saveur, and two seconds in front of third-placed combination Keith Shore on Stranger.

And Emily Davies clinched a thrilling victory in the BEF World Class Development Programme Championship.

Davies, from Clevedon, guided Cougar II home in 33.04 seconds to take a class won last year by Ellen Whitaker.

They were last to go in the jump-off, and the time edged Ireland's Anthony Condon (Eurocommerce Lanapoule) into second, with Yazmin Pinchen (Ashkari) third.