Adapted from BS
Britain has gained a place in the Alltech World Equestrian Games team final, which is held this afternoon, by finishing 10th after the team qualifier held on 5 October 2010.
Robert Smith lead Britain off again with Talan gaining just a single time fault wth his own and Di and Pennie Cornish's stallion.
"I’m pleased. Obviously I’d rather not have the time fault," he said. "He was carful and cautious to start, but got strong towards the end. One minute I was kicking, the next I was pulling.
"It was crucial to get a good start for the team and me as an individual. It was a clever riders' course; nipping you in on some distances, opening you up on others."
Individually, Robert is eighth on 3.94.
Britain's next rider was David McPherson, with Ansgar and Ellen Holtgers’s Chamberlain Z. The pair looked to have learned a lot from yesterday’s experience, looking much more relaxed with the horse really jumping.
They were unlucky to have a foot in the water, today’s bogey fence.
"I’m sick as a pig," said David. "His jumping was amazing but it was jockey error as he was quick to the water and compressed the last stride.
The combination are 39th individually on 10.35.
Third to go was Scott Brash, with his father Stanley Brash’s Intertoy Z and they also put the experience gained yesterday to good effect for a great round with just an unlucky toe on the tape before the water. Scott lies 54th on 12.88.
A clear round from Britain's final combination, Michael Whitaker and Beatrice Mertens’s GIG Amai II, would have made a top ten position safe, but they had two fences down.
"I’m obviously disappointed. I’m pretty pleased with the way he jumped but we got disorganised at the water," he said. "I had to ride it as I knew others had had trouble and hoped he’d jump the next, but I lost the rhythm and control. He’s a sensitive horse and is quick to react. I over-rode and it cost me two fences.”
A total score of 14.51 puts Michael 54th overall.
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