GREAT BRITAIN has won a second superb equestrian gold at the Paris Olympics, as the jumpers topped the podium – and the dressage squad won two brilliant bronzes.
Ben Maher (Dallas Vegas Batilly), Harry Charles (Romeo 88) and Scott Brash (Jefferson) made it four Olympic showjumping gold medals in four Games on 2 August. The next day, Carl Hester (Fame), Becky Moody (Jagerbomb) and Lottie Fry (Glamourdale) won team bronze, less than four marks behind Germany’s gold.
On Sunday, Lottie and Glamourdale won individual bronze, behind Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB, and Isabell Werth with Wendy.
The British showjumpers had been on top form from day one, securing their ticket to the team final by finishing third in the qualifier. All scores were reset for the final, in which first-in Ben and the 11-year-old mare he owns with Pamela Wright and Charlotte Rossetter jumped a fabulous clear, with just one time-fault.
Harry and the 15-year-old gelding he owns with Ann Thompson put in a faultless clear that was within the time allowed. The last rotation went in reverse order, so Scott and Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham’s 15-year-old went in knowing that one fence down would have meant the gold had slipped away. But cool as cucumbers, they jumped clear for just one time-fault.
“You’ve just got to stay focused,” Scott said. “Stay focused on your horse, you know what you know, and it’s a partnership. You just stay focused on what you know with your horse and try to execute your plan. That’s what I tried to do and thankfully it paid off.”
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