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Olympics-Equestrian-Britain win team jumping gold ahead of US and France
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By Tassilo Hummel
VERSAILLES (Reuters) -Britain’s equestrian team bagged another Olympic title as showjumpers Ben Maher, Harry Charles, and Scott Brash won gold on Friday with almost no errors on a challenging course to bring further cheer in the wake of the damaging Charlotte Dujardin scandal.
Securing a third team-win in the discipline with two time penalties and no knocked-off rails, Britain triumphed ahead of the United States on four and France with seven penalty points.
The victory, which added to Britain’s team eventing gold earlier in the week, cheered up riding fans as a scandal over a video showing the country’s dressage great Dujardin hitting a horse revived debate on the sport’s Olympic future.
“I think the message back home is that we brought back gold medals, I think we’ve done our country proud,” Brash told reporters.
“These horses are looked after unbelievably well. They’re our family, you know. They’re amazing athletes. We want equestrianism to stay in the Olympic Games. It’s so important.”
Riders were asked to steer their mounts over 14 obstacles reminiscent of Paris landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame cathedral, some as high as 1.65 metres (5.41 feet), in just under 80 seconds.
Charles, on 15-year-old bay gelding Romeo 88, had one of the day’s best performances, incurring no penalties.
The crowd erupted in cheers when French first-time Olympian Olivier Perreau – called in as a replacement after another rider’s horse failed the veterinary check – also had a perfect ride on Dorai D’Aiguilly, briefly lifting his team to top spot.
French President Emmanuel Macron was among the 16,500 spectators watching the horses perform against the backdrop of the famous Versailles chateau.
The track was tough compared to other events, riders told reporters. “It’s the maximum level you could possibly have in terms of technical challenges,” Germany’s Christian Kukuk said.
Germany came fifth, missing out on a medal for the second straight time in a discipline they once dominated.
On Thursday, Germany had delivered the best performance, but qualification scores were erased for Friday’s finals.
Defending Olympic champions Sweden, with top-ranked rider Henrik von Eckermann and his horse King Edward, finished sixth.
Mexico, who harboured hopes of a medal, had to withdraw on Friday morning, citing veterinary reasons regarding one of their horses. The team had no fallback option after another of their mounts had already failed pre-competition vet checks.
(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Alison Williams, Ken Ferris, Philippa Fletcher and Toby Davis)
Show jumping is an equestrian event where horse and rider must jump over a series of obstacles within a set time. It tests the horse's agility and the rider's skill.
Penalty points are added to a rider's score for errors such as knocking down a rail or exceeding the time limit during a competition.
An Olympic title is awarded to athletes or teams that win a gold medal in their respective events during the Olympic Games, signifying their status as the best in the world.
Equestrianism is the art or practice of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses. It encompasses various disciplines, including dressage, show jumping, and eventing.
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