Wayne Channon and Lorenzo CH stay in eighth place overnight on a score of 67.542%, followed by 21-year-old Laura Bechtolsheimer on Douglas Dorsey in ninth with 67.375%. Laura went out at 10am, being only eighth to go.
Team GB chef d’equipe David Trott said: “You’ve got to be pleased with third place on the first day. I was over the moon with Laura’s test, especially when she went so early. All the work they’ve been doing has really paid off. There are some strong combinations to come, but this is amazing.”
21-year-old Laura Bechtolsheimer on Douglas Dorsey. Picture by Trevor Meeks
After the first of two days of grand prix that decide the team placings, Germany’s Heike Kemmer is in the lead with Bonaparte on 75.792%, followed by Imke Schellekens-Bartels and Sunrise, from the Netherlands, with 71.542%. The third-placed rider is Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson with Solos Carex, on 70.333%.
Heike said: “The audience gave me a big kick when I entered the arena and Bonaparte said ‘we need to do a really good job now’. It was one of the best grand prix I’ve ridden and I’m naturally very happy Germany is in the lead.”
Tomorrow, Wednesday, the rest of the team riders will complete their grand prix. The best three scores from each nation will decide the final team medal positions. The best 30 riders then go forward to Friday’s grand prix special, where they start again with zero. The best rider of this competition wins the first of two individual gold medals up for grabs.
The top 15 riders from the special then advance – again with a clean slate – to the grand prix freestyle on Saturday evening, to contest the second set of individual medals.
Don’t miss this week’s Horse & Hound for in-depth reports on all the action in Aachen out on Thursday
