 Skelton has already qualified for April's World Cup finals in Las Vegas |
Britain's Nick Skelton is back at the top of the World Cup standings after picking up valuable points in Saturday's Grand Prix at Paris-Bercy. Skelton and his Olympic horse Arko III uncharacteristically put in the slowest second clear round in 39.52 seconds.
But the 12 points he gained for fifth place were enough to see him leapfrog Lars Nieberg, of Germany - who he now leads by six points on a total of 72.
The event was won by Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa riding Baboulet du Rouet.
Pessoa was fastest of five double clears, jumping the second round in 37.08 secs, and the 20 points he gained puts him in third place in the cup standings on 58 points.
Germany's Ludger Beerbaum, the overall world number one, was second after completing his second clear in 38.07 with Couleur Rubin.
Britain's number one Robert Smith and Marius Claudius had one fence down in the first round but went on to earn two cup points and 12th place.
Smith is now 33rd in the standings on 17 points.
Meanwhile, fellow Briton Robert Whitaker retired with Nicolette II.
MMIX
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