Virtually unknown Frenchman, Xavier Caumont, took on the best showjumpers in the world and beat them hollow at Olympia yesterday. Caumont first sprang into the limelight at Seville a fortnight ago when his eight-year-old mare Baladine du Mesnil jumped the only clear round to win the Volvo World Cup qualifier.

However, the opposition at the Spanish fixture was not of the calibre that lined out in London yesterday. Just two got through to the timed round, with world champion Franke Sloothaak failing to make the cut after a stop at the innocuous sixth fence. But the resulting three faults were good enough to leave him third ahead of eight that had connected with just one fence. Peter Charles and the Selle Francais mare Dolly were amongst that number.

Caumont knew he was facing an uphill task when he joined European champion and triple Olympic gold medallist Ludger Beerbaum in the final showdown. But, incredibly, Beerbaum opened the door for a French victory when, first to go, Sprehe Rush On left the last two fences on the floor, giving Caumont all the leeway he needed.

The French jockey had no need to push his inexperienced eightyear-old out of her stride and the mare responded by posting another clear. With no winnings to bank from the earlier classes, Charles hoped he would be heading the line-up for last night's Puissance, just as he had in Dublin when he cleared 7ft 2ins with the thoroughbred T'Aime and the nine-year-old looked likely to realise those hopes as he took on the big wall, easily clearing it in the first four rounds.

With just the two Germans, Ludger Beerbaum and Rene Tebbel left to challenge Charles at the final height, the Irishman looked virtually assured of a share of the top money. But although Beerbaum's ride Alex H and Rene Tebbel's Renometto left the wall intact at 7ft 2ins, T'Aime dropped a hind leg on the coping.