'The best day of our lives'

In an unexpected shake-up of the form book, Britain’s showjumpers soar to gold. Pippa Roome continues our series remembering London 2012

- Pippa Roome

AS Graham Fletcher pointed out in his H&H column, Britain’s showjumpers have so often been the underachievers compared with the other equestrian disciplines when it comes to Olympic Games – but not this time.

Nick Skelton spearheaded the effort, but every rider contributed to the team gold, with Ben Maher and Scott Brash pulling off precious clears and Peter Charles hitting form just when it mattered most, in the jump-off for gold.

It was a case of rebounding from glory to heartbreak as the individual competition rolled around, when one fence down denied Nick and Big Star a second gold, the “clean slate” format of the individual final working against them although they had been the most consistent combination of the Games.

But no one could take away from what Britain’s showjumpers had achieved in the team competition, with Britain’s first Olympic jumping team gold in 60 years.

The medallists

TEAM

Gold Great Britain

Silver Netherlands

Bronze Saudi Arabia

INDIVIDUAL

Gold Steve Guerdat (SUI) on Nino Des Buissonnets

Silver Gerco Schröder (NED) on London

Bronze Cian O’Connor (IRL) on Blue Loyd 12

IN NUMBERS

1 pair jumped clear throughout the first three days – Nick Skelton and Big Star

16 AGE OF THE TWO OLDEST HORSES, FLEXIBLE AND ITOT DU CHATEAU

4 nine-year-old horses, including Big Star

345 number of congratulatory text messages Nick Skelton received immediately after the team won gold

28 years since Los Angeles, the last time Britain won a showjumping Olympic medal before London

18 AGE OF THE YOUNGEST RIDER, THE USA’S REED KESSLER

They said it best