THE tussle between William Fox-Pitt and Blyth Tait continued right down to the wire at Blarney Castle yesterday. But it was the British jockey that turned the tables on the Olympic champion to claim the honours, when Tait's show jumping round with Darby left three fences on the floor and dropped him from the overnight lead to sixth.

Fox-Pitt had topped the dressage placings with the Skyboy gelding Pie In The Sky II, but squandered his advantage with the addition of 1.6 cross-country time penalties on Saturday. That was enough to allow Tait through to pole position with the New Zealand thoroughbred Darby, alter a perfect jumping round from the strong-pulling gelding in difficult ground conditions.

But Tait's partner was not in such an obliging mood yesterday and, with all the pressure on after a clear from Fox-Pitt and Pie In The Sky, the Atlanta gold medallist had to call on all his reserves of strength to keep his tally down to 15 penalties as the prospect of victory disappeared at the second fence.

Fox-Pitt was the greatest beneficiary of Tait's downfall as he manoeuvred his way into the winner's enclosure on Pie In The Sky's three-day debut and collected the £3,000 for the win. He also finished fifth with his other Irish horse, Mulligans Shenanigans. Sasha Harrison and Stuart Crawford were best of the home side in 11th and 12th, while Austin O'Connor went one better by triumphing in the Blarney national class, having led from flag-fall with Newhouse Samuel.

But the Cork rider's victory was no walkover. With only one fence in hand over Susan Shortt and the mare Abbey Wood, O'Connor was under serious pressure to leave all the furniture standing, but it was the gusting wind that threatened to undo all his efforts as it brought down the planks when Newhouse Samuel was lined up to jump the previous fence.

The bell signalled O'Connor to stop for the planks to be rebuilt, but there was no time to turn away from the preceding oxer and, in a moment of panic, the back rail fell. But the judges gave O'Connor the benefit of the doubt and allowed him to retake the oxer. which he cleared at the second attempt and, although the first part of the combination fell, that was the only accountable mistake to give him his most poignant win to date.

The junior class was also an all-the-way win, with the honours going to Dalkey youngster Evanna Barrington, who survived some anxious moments in yesterday's show jumping to come home clear with the talented mare Lady Alex.