Klimke Beats Her Nemesis

There are exhilarating highs and disappointing lows in the final phase, where Britain maintain their grip on gold

A SUNNY Sunday began with a degree of anxiousness in the air, which would only become more suffocating as the reverse-order final phase progressed.

In total, 56 horses came forward to show jump after four were withdrawn overnight and three were lost from Sunday morning’s final horse inspection.

The only well-placed casualty was Pawel Spisak’s Banderas for Poland, who was sent to the holding box and spun on re inspection while lying 11th.

With Cooley SRS out of the running for Great Britain, pressure was on the remaining all female trio to secure a final score for the team — and they couldn’t afford more than two fences down between them if they wanted to guarantee gold.

Just as she had the previous day, Ros Canter remained cool and composed to deliver a perfect clear aboard Allstar B.

Concerned glances were exchanged around the collecting ring when Billy The Red, whom Tina maintains is naturally spooky both at home and in competition, became unsettled by a roaring crowd and at first napped away from the entrance. Once inside, he relaxed and, other than lightly rubbing five — white rails above a water tray — he executed a foot perfect clear.