History repeated itself for Great Britain on the closing day of the FEI European Jumping Championships, when disaster for the Dutch team cleared the way for Britain to claim a bronze medal.

Having jumped superbly all week with Beverley Widdowson’s eye catching grey gelding Carlo, Nick Skelton had just one unlucky fence down in each round to post a final score of 9.04. With three riders left to jump the pressure was on to see who could hold their nerve and take a medal.

Dutch disaster

Rolf-Göran Bengtsson for Sweden added a single time fault to his first round clear to close on 6.77, while Carsten-Otto Nagel for Germany chalked up four faults for a score of 8.69, putting them both ahead of Nick. With a fence in-hand only Gerco Schröder for the Netherlands could deny Britain an individual medal.

Earlier this week, the Brits had clinched a last-minute team bronze when the last rider to go for the Dutch team picked up an unprecedented eight faults, relegating the team to fourth. They had started the team competition with a decent chance of winning gold only to find themselves out of the medals altogether.

At the individual final, Gerco Schröder went into the final round in first place, having not knocked a single pole throughout the championships. Gerco and the grey Eurocommerce New Orleans were jumping effortlessly when things started to unravel and they had two knock downs, dropping him from first to fourth.

Another bronze for Britain    

This meant it was gold for the Swedes, silver for Germany and bronze for Britain’s Nick Skelton, adding another individual medal to his illustrious career. Nick has represented Great Britain at six previous Europeans and took individual bronze at the Championships in 1987.

British team mate Ben Maher also proved his talented ride, the young stallion Tripple X III who he co-owns with the Quainton Stud, one to watch for 2012. The combination wrapped up their competition in 12th place with a score of 15.76.

Equestrian Performance Director Will Connell commented: “Nick’s bronze medal on Carlo is very well deserved; this is a young horse who demonstrates all the potential to win more medals in the future and rounds off an outstanding summer for Equestrian Team GBR."

Will praised the performance of all the disciplines at this year's championships. "We believe this is the first year we’ve medaled in all three Olympic as well as Paralympic disciplines. Add to this the success of the Eccles family in vaulting, it’s been a very good year."

Final placings

1, Ninja La Silla and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) GOLD (6.772) 

2, Corradina and Carsten-Otto Nagel (GER) SILVER (8.693)

3, Carlo and Nick Skelton (GBR) BRONZE (9.04)