- Charlotte Dujardin’s horse scandal hangs like a dark cloud over British equestrian sport
- Team GB hopes to retain team title in equestrian sport for the first time since Munich 1972
- Heading into the show jumping final, Team GB are just ahead of their French hosts
After a dark week, the promise of a golden day.
A cloud has hung over British equestrian sport since the Charlotte Dujardin horse scandal broke last Tuesday. But that could be lifted today as Team GB defend their Olympic team eventing title for the first time since 1972.
After Sunday’s cross-country round at the Chateau de Versailles, Laura Collett, Tom McEwen and Ros Canter enter today’s show jumping final as leaders in the rankings, with a score of 82.50. They narrowly stay ahead of host country France with a score of 87.20.
But they would have had an even bigger advantage had Canter not been given a controversial 15-point penalty, which Team GB have appealed.
The former world champion is said not to have jumped between the flags marking the boundary of one of the fences.
Charlotte Dujardin, the three-time Olympic champion for the British team, has sparked controversy and will not compete in Paris after a video emerged of her whipping a horse 24 times during training
Dujardin will be given an indefinite suspension and a full investigation will be conducted into her conduct
Laura Collett leads Team GB’s equestrian team – she is second in the individual rankings
Ros Canter was given a controversial 15-point penalty which Team GB are appealing
Despite Canter’s penalty, Tom McEwen and the rest of Team GB look well-placed to secure gold against their French hosts, who are currently second, in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles
Canter had an otherwise faultless run, but her penalty not only hurt Britain’s bid for team gold, it also dropped her from fifth to 24th in the individual standings. Officials were still reviewing video footage last night.
“I did hit a flag coming out of the three bushes at the end, but I never thought I wouldn’t make the jump,” Canter said. “I didn’t think I did anything except get back in time.”
Overall, Team GB still look set for gold, with Collett also second in the individual standings after just a 0.8 time penalty in the cross-country. McEwen is sixth after a clear run.
“I don’t normally show too much emotion and it actually brought out emotion in me, so it went that well,” he said. “It’s the most amazing crowd all around the track. Every area is packed with people. The job is not done yet, but we know we’re a great team.”
Britain’s chances in the team competition were boosted when Germany’s Christoph Wahler was eliminated after a fall, while Australia are also out of the race after Kevin McNab retired his horse Don Quidam.