Team GB’s eventing side fired themselves into silver medal spot after a stunning cross-country phase at Greenwich Park today.
All five British riders got round the course without any jumping penalties to add. Zara, Nicola and Tina all got round within the time, with Mary adding 1.2 pen and William steering a tired Lionheart round with 9.2 time penalties to add.
With the showjumping tomorrow, they will be aiming to challenge their German rivals for gold. But the Swedish team is close on their heels, with just 1.2 pen separating the second and third place teams.
Nicola Wilson got the day off to a great start with a flawless run on Opposition Buzz, while Zara Phillips also powered through the course to help her team to a strong position in their battle for gold.
Wilson’s incredible clear cross-country round remained inside her dressage score of 51.7. But she placed all the credit with her horse, who seemed to eat up the cross-country course. “I'm absolutely privileged to ride such a fantastic horse at the Olympics. This is his favourite phase by far, when he's allowed to go cross country it's like all his birthdays have come at once,” she continued.
Zara Phillips produced a storming cross-country ride on High Kingdom which saw the pair remain on their dressage score of 46.1 penalties.
“I’m so proud, he's such a dude, he lost both front shoes so I was just trying to keep him standing up around the corners, it's so slippery and twisty out there it was hard work. He managed it really well though; I'm so pleased with him, he's unbelievable and it's such a good result for the team.”
Tina Cook also finds herself sitting in fifth position going into the final day of the individual eventing, with Mary King not far behind in sixth and Zara Phillips in joint tenth.
The cross-country course did cause its problems today, with a total of 15 riders falling off.
Canadian rider Hawley Bennett-Awad was hospitalised after a nasty fall, but is said to be in a stable condition.
| 4:00pm | Unstable |
| 4:30pm | Unstable |
| 5:00pm | Farming Sunday |
| 5:30pm | Wonder Dogs |
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