Great Britain won team silver today in the dressage in Rio, finishing more than 3.3% behind the gold medal-winning Germans.
The German quartet had already proved themselves to be incredibly consistent in the Grand Prix, and today was no different, with Isabell Werth finishing top in the Grand Prix Special with 83.711%, while her team mates Dorothee Schneider and Kristina Broring-Sprehe finished third and fourth respectively on 82.619% and 81.401%.
The Germans have won eight of the last nine Olympic team golds in the dressage – and one rider who has featured heavily in this success was today’s leader Isabell Werth.
“Today’s performance was near the optimum, I don’t think it will be easy to repeat it – this was a day of days,” said Isabell.
Team GB’s Spencer Wilton, Carl Hester and Fiona Bigwood all produced good scores in the 70s to maintain Britain’s silver position, but small mistakes crept in to each of their tests. Wilton’s ride Super Nova II made an error in the flying changes, while Fiona Bigwood and Orthilia dropped marks in the piaffe.
“I was thinking I was going to get a personal best when I started, I was really pleased with it, but I think she got spooked by the camera. The rest was really good though and she really tried for me,” said Fiona.
Carl’s ride Nip Tuck was less spooky than he had been in the Grand Prix. There was a drop in marks in the second pirouette, but he still scored a very respectable 76.485%.
“The Olympics produces a lot of nerves, a different atmosphere and different rides from people,” said Carl. “I feel the whole of the team has ridden beautifully. Everybody coped with the pressure and the fact that these horses have travelled half way round the world and come out and done performances like that is really testament to the team.”
Last to go, Charlotte would have had to break her own World record to secure team gold for her team, and sadly it wasn’t to be – confusion in the first half pass saw uncustomary 3s and 4s creep on to their test sheet. But they pulled it back, finishing on 82.983% to go second behind Isabell.
The pressure is now on for the Freestyle, with Charlotte bidding to retain the gold medal she won in London. “We have new music for the freestyle, which will hopefully go to plan. I just want to go out there and enjoy myself and give Valegro a good time.”
The USA won bronze after a battle between them and the Dutch, with just over one percent separating the two teams.
The individual medals will be decided on Monday with the Grand Prix Freestyle. British fans will be willing Charlotte and Valegro on to win another individual gold, but one of the strong German side could well claim the honours – as today more than proved.
