Great Britain’s eventing team has won silver in the team event this afternoon, finishing behind favourites Germany and ahead of New Zealand.
Mary King, Nicola Wilson, William Fox-Pitt, Tina Cook and Zara Phillips (pictured left to right) delighted the home crowd at Greenwich Park with a final score of 138.20, behind the German’s excellent performance at 133.70 and ahead of the Kiwis on 144.40.
They went into today lying in second place and after Nicola Wilson and Zara Philips both knocked a fence down, and Germany’s Sandra Auffarth and Michael Jung went clear it was clear that the German’s would retain their Olympic title.
It then became a battle with New Zealand for second and third spot. Mark Todd, the seven-time Olympian, riding for New Zealand had a fence down and three times penalties. Whilst Tina Cook, riding last for GB, held her nerve and had a clear round with just one time penalty. Cook won double Olympic bronze in Beijing four years ago riding the same horse, Miners Frolic.
Phillips, making her Olympic debut on High Kingdom, was watched from the stands by her mother the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Her mother and father also rode in the Olympic Games for Great Britain. Her mother competed in Montreal in 1976 and her father Mark was a team gold medallist at Munich in 1972 and won silver in Seoul in 1988.
Speaking after her ride she said, “I messed up at the start but I told myself I had to get on with it. I’m really proud of the way my horse (High Kingdom) went.”
Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
Image credit: Kit Houghton
