GB soar into Euro Eventing lead

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

Britain take control in the cross country

Great Britain's eventing team look set to win their eighth successive European title after moving a massive 57.4 points clear of France.

Britain went into the cross country with a 6.1-point lead over Germany, but pulled well clear on Saturday.

And with Tina Cook in gold medal position and William Fox-Pitt in third, British riders are also setting the pace in the individual standings.

The Championships will draw to a close with the show-jumping on Sunday.

Mother-of two-Cook rode a brilliant clear on her double Olympic bronze medal-winning horse Miners Frolic to finish just outside the time for a score of 38.7.

"Team gold would be magic and I'm elated to be in the lead, but it wasn't a course I enjoyed or which suited him," said Cook.

"The strength in our partnership is that he trusts me."

As expected, Pierre Michelet's cross country course proved extremely influential.

The energy sapping sandy going with its twists and turns, numerous corners and difficult strides caught out several of the world's top riders.

I am so pleased. I had been worrying about this course since first being selected two months ago

Britain's William Fox-Pitt

Britain's Oliver Townend, who had been leading with Cook after the dressage, had two refusals on Flint Curtis.

"I've had a Badminton and a Burghley win this year, so to think I could have three would be ridiculous," he said.

"I tried to make it happen but it didn't work."

The Olympic champions Germany also had a day to forget.

Two of their team riders were eliminated and one retired leaving only the Luhmuhlen winner Michael Jung on La Biosthetique-Sam FB in the frame for a medal as he took second place individually, 6.3 points behind Cook.

There was also disappointment for home fans when reigning champion Nicolas Touzaint was eliminated on a technicality after his horse Tatchou jumped over the fence flag instead of inside it.

Three out of Britain's four team riders jumped clear with pathfinder Nicola Wilson going inside the time on the cross country machine Opposition Buzz.

"He just loves his cross country. We took all the direct routes and he just ate them all up - it was lovely," she said.

World number one Fox-Pitt was equally pleased with his round on Idalgo. The 40-year-old moved up from seventh to third and sits just a 10th of a penalty point behind Jung on a score of 45.1

"I am so pleased. I had been worrying about this course since first being selected two months ago. It doesn't suit big horses and mine is big," he said.

There were also clears for Britain's two individual competitors. Piggy French, who was only called into the squad two weeks ago to replace Mary King, is lying in fourth place on Some Day Soon.

"It was quite hard work getting him round, but I'm relieved to be back with a clear round," she said.

Lucy Wiegersma and Woodfalls Inigo Jones are in 15th.