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Page last updated at 08:23 GMT, Monday, 11 August 2008 09:23 UK

British riders close on Germans

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Video - Equestrian Cross Country highlights

Germany lead the Olympic equestrian event from Australia and Britain going into Tuesday's show jumping final.

Team GB rose to third place after William Fox-Pitt produced the second-fastest cross-country time.

And Games veteran Mary King remains a medal contender in the individual rankings after a clear round to score 18.00 on Call Again Cavalier.

She is joint fifth behind the leading German pair Hinrich Romeike on Marius and Ingrid Klimke aboard Abraxxas.

No riders completed the demanding Beas River course, the shortest in Olympic history, within the allotted eight minutes as the sharp corners and damp grass proved a tough test.

Daisy Dick rode first for Britain and the 36-year-old had a clear round upon Spring Along to collect 17.20 penalty points.

Mary King
King is competing in her fifth Olympic Games for Britain
Fox-Pitt, who had endured a relatively disappointing dressage round, followed up on Parkmore Ed and the pair bounced back with a time of eight minutes and 24 seconds, accumulating 10 points.

Tina Cook rode third for Britain and scored 17.20 on Miners Frolic while Sharon Hunt, on Tankers Town, received a 20-point jumping penalty and completed her cross-country with 47.60 points.

King, 47, lavished praise upon the rest of her team.

"Daisy was a fantastic pathfinder and William, the master, was absolutely incredible," said King, who is on 56.10.

"Tina was incredible on her young horse while Sharon, although she made one little mistake, had a fantastic ride."

Cook (57.40) is 10th overall while Fox-Pitt moved up to 14th with 60.20 points. Dick (68.90) and Hunt (91.10) are 24th and 38th respectively.

606: DEBATE
The Germans lead the way after Romeike scored 12.80 points to leave her on 50.20 points overall.

Klimke is just 0.5 points behind after scoring 17.20.

Australian Megan Jones (51.00) completes the top three while team-mate Clayton Fredericks (53.40) is fourth.

Ireland are eighth in the team rankings with 265.10 points going into the show jumping phase, which will take place from 1215 to 1800 BST on Tuesday.


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Sunday, 24 August 2008 10:17 UK
RankCountryGoldSilverBronzeTOTAL
1also show each event results forGermany3115
Dressage Individual011
Dressage Team100
Eventing Individual100
Eventing Team100
2also show each event results forUSA1113
Eventing Individual010
Jumping Individual001
Jumping Team100
3also show each event results forCanada1102
Jumping Individual100
Jumping Team010
4also show each event results forNetherlands1102
Dressage Individual100
Dressage Team010
5also show each event results forAustralia0101
Eventing Team010
6also show each event results forSweden0101
Jumping Individual010
7also show each event results forGreat Britain0022
Eventing Individual001
Eventing Team001
8also show each event results forDenmark0011
Dressage Team001
9also show each event results forNorway0011
Jumping Team001

see also
Aussies take charge in dressage
10 Aug 08 |  Equestrian
Injury blow to French title hopes
09 Aug 08 |  Equestrian
Daisy Dick aims for Olympic glory
07 Jul 08 |  Equestrian
Olympics blog
07 Aug 08 |  Olympics
Beijing 2008
14 Feb 08 |  Olympics


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