last updated on July 30, 2010 15:44

The British team took fourth place in the Team Dressage competition at the Pony European Championships 2010 with a score of 202.66 - missing out on bronze by just 4% across three riders.

A sparkling performance on the second morning from Team GB debutante Erin Williams (12) and Danny Boy B (69.55), and a solid round from Claire Gallimore and Gigolo, who ended on a score of 68.61 despite a slip-up, took Team GB from seventh overnight, to fourth position.

Chef d'Equipe Liz Mills was philosophical about the team's performance. She said: "It's frustrating, but they all rode well and they are a great team."

Top scorer Erin Williams (pictured) commented; "I really enjoyed my test, I thought I'd be nervous, but when I got in there I just thought 'get in!'."  Team mate Claire Gallimore added; "We had good preparation and worked well as a team so I was gutted when we broke in our extended trot. I tried to put it behind though and recovered well."
 

The top 25 combinations, including three British riders, will go through to Friday’s individual competition which promises to be hotly contested. All the riders will revert to zero scores. 

> Read more about each of the pony team members here