GB trail Germany in Euro Eventing

EUROPEAN EVENTING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Venue: Fontainebleau, France Dates: 24-27 September Coverage:Watch live on BBC Two, the red button and the BBC Sport website (UK only)

By Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes
BBC Sport in Fontainebleau

Fox-Pitt was impressed by Idalgo's calmness under pressure

Olympic champions Germany were the team to beat at the halfway stage of the dressage at the European Eventing Championships in Fontainebleau, France.

German riders were first and second in the individual standings and 14 points ahead of reigning champions Great Britain in the team competition.

Britain's William Fox-Pitt was delighted with a score of 41.5 on Idalgo that put him third overall.

"I am dead chuffed, he really tried today," said Fox-Pitt.

As usual in dressage, the best scores came later in the day and German's second team rider Franck Ostholt rode a beautifully precise test on Air Jordan 2, scoring 39.2 to go into the lead.

The cheers were still ringing round the arena when Fox-Pitt entered on Idalgo.

"I normally try to time it better so I miss the clapping but luckily the horse isn't bothered by noise," he added.

Olympic bronze medallist Tina Cook goes first for GB on Miners Frolic on Friday, while Oliver Townend rides his Badminton winner Flint Curtis.

The scores for those two riders will count in the team competition, while Piggy French, riding Some Day Soon, is GB's other individual rider.

I was disappointed with his marks but as he's better known for his jumping; hopefully we can make up some ground in the cross country

Nicola Wilson on Opposition Buzz

The HSBC FEI European Championships move to the cross-country course on Saturday, followed by Sunday's show jumping finale.

On Thursday, North Yorkshire's Nicola Wilson, making her senior international debut, was the first British rider to perform on the slightly sloping grassy dressage arena.

The 32-year-old, riding Opposition Buzz, has admitted dressage is not the horse's best discipline and the pair scored 56.7, enough for joint 20th individually.

But afterwards she said: "He did probably his best test ever.

"I was disappointed with his marks but as he's better known for his jumping and it was good to send us out first when the judges aren't quite as generous.

"Hopefully we can make up some ground in the cross country."

Lucy Wiegersma, Britain's third rider in action on Thursday, was joint fourth individually on 45 penalty points.

A proven talent in the dressage arena, she rode a fluid test on Woodfalls Inigo Jones but her score does not count towards the team tally.

"I'm actually a bit relieved to be here as an individual. He's a good horse but he's not totally established yet, so I haven't got any one to let down except myself," she said.