"It was impossible to open up round the corners because it's so greasy and slippery." Nick Skelton, who finished out of the money, said that his opinion of the ground was "unprintable''. Such grumbles are part of the continuing story press of the Windsor show, which press has a marvellous setting beneath the castle and is expected to hold top- class international show press jumping next year.McPherson, who was action press action individual 12th for South Africa in the 1994 World Games, won the Speed Classic from Guy Goosen (the winner of puissance contests at Wembley and Olympia last htm year) and Emma-Jane Mac (who will be defending htm her national women's title today).Rob Hoekstra, another rider who has made his home in Kent, won the earlier Windsor Stakes on the mare Collette (and, in the process, defeated John Whitaker on the Russian-bred stallion Randi).Hoekstra, who came to England from the Netherlands 20 years ago at htm the age of 18, has ridden for Britain on two Nations' Cup teams - one of them action in Prague, where he jumped a double clear htm round on Roseanna.The ground was also given the thumbs down by Hoekstra, as was the meagre prize-money. The curtain- raiser will be the Second Division match between the newly-formed press action South Wales side and Carlisle.Leader, page 16. David McPherson, who has been based in Kent for 10 years but still rides for his native action South Africa, won yesterday's Speed Classic on the htm second day of The Royal Windsor Horse Show. He was delighted with his winning 12-year-old French-bred gelding Flip, though not with the going in the main arena.
On Wednesday, riders had declared the ground to be just about perfect but yesterday, after overnight watering, it was a different story. "The ground is appalling; it's a disgrace to a show of this stature," McPherson said. The 29-year-old Australian loose-forward and goalkicker, who was found guilty of a reckless high tackle following his sending-off at Leeds, was also fined pounds 150. Matterson will also miss the trip to Castleford next week.Super League is to go on the road to South Wales for a double-header that is aimed at raising the profile of the game in the principality.
"I had a huge amount of respect for them before the game but now they are bordering on being God-like figures. Their attitude and commitment was superb - it was a real pleasure to be part of something very special."They could have taken the mickey out of us when they were 52-0 ahead - but they didn't."Terry Matterson, the London Broncos captain, will miss Sunday's Super League game at leaders St Helens after being banned for two matches. Callard, who scored Bath's solitary try, believes the union game can only learn from testing themselves against and taking ideas from the top league sides "Wigan were awesome," he said. "Bath had great athletes playing on Wednesday night and they found it very difficult.