'So special': Brits score impressive win

The British riders clinch the competitive team contest, while one horse keeps on stepping up for individual glory

- GEMMA REDRUP

CHIO Aachen, Germany

BRITAIN proved unassailable in the team competition, leading from start to finish to win the prestigious SAP-Cup.

The squad of Laura Collett (Dacapo, third), Emily King (Valmy Biats, fifth), Kirsty Chabert (Classic VI, 19th) and Izzy Taylor (SBH Big Wall, 37th) finished on 112.8, ahead of the USA in second on 123.7 and Ireland in third on 138.

Germany took fourth on 147.5.

Laura, who finished best of the Brits on Diana Chappell, Gillian Morris-Adams and Michael Smedley's 15-yearold Diarado gelding, said: "Everything here is so special the atmosphere, the crowds.

We don't get to jump in a stadium like this anywhere else in the world."

There had been musings among competitors that the cross-country track, designed by Rüdiger Schwarz for the final time after many years holding the role here, was softer than in previous seasons.

However, from 44 crosscountry starters, 28 jumped clear, with two making the optimum time of 6min 50sec the target is always tough to achieve around the notoriously twisty and intense course with faults well spread.

British chef d'equipe Philip Surl commented: "It was an interesting competition in the end looking at the statistics after the cross-country - it was maybe not what everyone thought it would be after walking it earlier in the week." Laura said: "It was a go-cart course, one obstacle quickly followed the next. It's always demanding, but Dacapo loves the crowds - he switches off around long, galloping tracks, so he thrives here."

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