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last updated on August 14, 2008 09:12

The first half of the Olympic team dressage competition got underway today with two out of the three British dressage riders being drawn to ride. At the end of a hard fought evening in Hong Kong team GB find themselves lying in second place behind the Netherlands on a team average of 67.25%.

Pathfinder Jane Gregory with Lucky Star was first into the arena for the Brits, she produced a solid but below par test on the 16.2hh bay gelding to score 63.37%. A frustrated Jane commented: “He made some little but expensive mistakes and then the judges start to look for it. I think some of it was me trying too hard to get the best test from him ever. We didn’t have any big wobbles but the test was a little disappointing. Even at 16 years old this is the biggest thing he’s ever done, it’s been an amazing experience to be in Hong Kong.”

With Dutch, German and US riders posting plus 70% scores the pressure was on team mate Emma Hindle and her 15 year old brown stallion Lancet to keep the hopes of the nation alive. The pair responded admirably, riding the test of their lives, to score 71.12% and finish in 2nd place at this halfway stage of the competition behind the German Heike Kemme and Bonaparte.

"Being part of this British team has made me so proud and I've had a wonderful month of getting to know people who I've never had the chance to. The Olympic experience has been amazing! I started my test today with the aim of getting a "clear round" to use a show jumping phrase - that was, to ride sensibly and safely for a good score and I'm very satisfied with the result. It was certainly one of my best in the four years I have ridden Lancet. He's very willing and the better I ride, the better he goes." said a delighted Emma.

Hindle’s achievement also bolsters the British team to lie in 2nd place overnight; however, with the traditionally strong dressage nations of Germany, the USA and Denmark each with only one score posted it is a fragile lead. Britain’s final team rider Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris, yet to go, will also need to find something special to keep the dressage team within a shout of the medal table.

They complete their test tomorrow on the final day of the Grand Prix dressage team competition along with Dutch and German dressage superstars Anky van Grunsven and Isabell Werth. The top 25 placed combinations will go on to compete in the individual stages of the competition, beginning with the Grand Prix Special test on Saturday 16th August.

Wednesday 13 August

Individual Dressage Day 1:
1 Heike Kemmer (Ger) 72.250 pts
2 Emma Hindle (GB) 71:125 pts
3 Imke Schellekens-Bartels (Ned) 70.875 pts
12 Jane Gregory (GB) 63.375 pts

Team Dressage Day 1:
1 Netherlands 70.250 pts
2 Great Britain 67.250 pts
3 Sweden 66.583 pts

Jane Gregory and Lucky Star

Emma Hindle and Lancet