Raucus Protest Steals Show from Horses : Equestrian: Markus Fuchs is the early leader at Volvo World Cup event.

DEL MAR —  On the North Side of Chicago you expect Bleacher Bums. At a hoity-toity social affair like Grand Prix show jumping, you expect white wine and the tinkle of glasses.

But in Thursday’s Volvo World Cup, there was plenty of rousing and razzing as Great Britain’s Tina Cassan stole the hearts of the fans and the show as well.

Cassan finished eighth, but she rallied the estimated 5,500 in attendance to her side with a gutsy, and almost comical, protest.

Switzerland’s Markus Fuchs took the early lead for the title of world champion on Interpane Shandor, a dark bay-colored gelding who negotiated the series of 13 jumps covering 505 meters in 66.27 seconds. Fuchs earned $25,000.

He edged Austria’s Thomas Fruhmann (67.84), Germany’s Franke Sloothaak (67.86) and Elmar Gundel (68.94), and Holland’s Eric Willemsz (69.04). American Anne Kursinski took sixth place on Aston (71.19).

Fuchs picked up 47 points toward the World Cup title, Fruhman 45, Sloothaak 44, Gundel 43, and so on.

Thursday’s competition was against the clock. Horse and rider had 87 seconds to complete the 505-meter layout, which featured 16 obstacles. For every fault the horse incurred, six seconds was added to the elapsed time.

Though Fuchs stole the early lead, the spotlight--and controversy--illuminated itself on Cassan.

She was eliminated for failing to begin her ride aboard Genesis within the allotted 60 seconds after the starting bell. However, Cassan apparently never heard the bell--if there was one--and did not begin. Meanwhile, the clock began ticking. The 60 seconds expired and Cassan was still waiting for the signal to begin. She was motioned off the course, but refused. The crowd hissed. Then jeered. Then stomped its feet. Cassan made her point with ringside judges by waving her finger at them.

The crowd grew more intense. As Cassan made her way toward the exit gate--she had no intention of leaving--the crowd stood up. After Cassan had been in the arena about seven minutes, the crowd began chanting that familiar equestrian refrain.

“Darryl, Darryl.”

The public address announcer was replaced by another voice, presumably someone more official.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this isn’t going to help matters.”

Sure it did. A few minutes later, a public request was made for judges to meet at the jury box. Fifteen minutes after entering the arena, Cassan was the first winner of the night. The grand jury conferred with the appeals jury and decided to let her jump pending a review of the videotape.

Cassan and Genesis jumped in dead silence. When part of the crowd clapped in appreciation of clearing the three-jump oxer, the rest of the crowd heaved a collective “Shhhh.”

Forty seconds in, the only sound that could be heard was the excited voice of Prime Network broadcaster Jay Randolph.

The crowd ganged up on him.

“Shhhh.”

Cassan and Genesis, 40th in the riding rotation, produced the night’s 11th clean round and a time of 71.80 seconds, seventh-best to that point.

She rode out of the arena to a standing ovation and eventually finished eighth.

World Cup Notes

Rancho Santa Fe’s Bernie Traurig won a blue ribbon on Flying Scott Thursday afternoon in the International Jump-off Competition.