Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob Old win bronze at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon/USA after a nail biting final day of show jumping.

Great Britain's eventers claimed a golden double on an unforgettable day of action. Rosalind Canter not only led the British team to glory - their first world Gold medal since 2010 - but she also won the Individual title with her brilliant 13-year-old gelding, Allstar B.

It was a breath-taking finish to both events and saw Canter enter the arena knowing that she could afford to have one pole down and Britain would still beat eventual runners-up Ireland to top spot. She delivered an immaculate clear round, and also retained the second spot individually before leader after Cross-Country, Germany's Ingrid Klimke, with SAP Hale Bob OLD. Ingrid Klimke was the last starter in the show jumping and until the second to last jump it looked as if she would add the World Championship title to her European Championship title and then at the last oxer the pole fell dropping her back to bronze position. “Of course I would be lying if I said I am more pleased to get bronze than gold but there are worst things”, commented Ingrid, “it is the only mistake this horse has made during WEG. He did a wonderful dressage test and an amazing clear round in the cross country. Sometimes all that is missing is a little piece of luck!"

Ireland's Padraig McCarthy riding Mr. Chunky came second, getting double silver with the Irish team. Current Olympic champions France finished third, with Britain adding the team world title to their European crown won in Poland last September. It is the first time Britain has won both competitions in one single FEI World Equestrian Games, and 32-year-old Canter is the first British Individual Gold medalist since Zara Tindall 12 years ago in Aachen, Germany. First British rider Gemma Tattersall had three fences down with Arctic Soul, with Tom McEwen (Toledo de Kerser) and Piggy French (Quarrycrest Echo) each accumulating four faults before Canter took the stage. Canter remarked, "Allstar B was absolutely amazing. He was an absolute hero." “I had an amazing experience in there," she said. "I kept saying to myself just let him do his job and I am so proud. He is just phenomenal. There were quite a few tears when I found out, which isn't normal for me. It's just incredible for me and the whole support team behind Team Great Britain. It's just the most incredible feeling, and a very surreal day.”

British Eventing Performance Manager Richard Waygood added, "It's been an amazing day in the office, really great team work. They all pulled together. They all went in there for the team and stuck to the system. It was close at the end, but even before Ros jumped the last fence, I knew she had it. Our primary objective coming here was qualifying for Tokyo (2020 Olympic Games), and our next objective was to win as many medals as possible, and we've achieved both goals."

The Irish quartet of McCarthy, Sarah Ennis, Cathal Daniels and Sam Watson secured Ireland's first major championship Eventing medal in more than 20 years, finishing 6.8 penalties ahead of reigning Olympic champions France in third, with Japan fourth, Germany fifth, Australia sixth and New Zealand seventh. Ireland Chef d'Equipe Sally Corscadden said, "This is huge for us. We are making history today. I had belief that we could be competitive here, and we just stuck to our goal."

2014 World Champions Germany moved up to 5th place after show jumping with the help of two great clear rounds from Kai Rüder and Andreas Dibowski and have achieved their secondary goal of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. Inspired by their coaching mastermind to London 2012 Olympic Gold medal glory, Chris Bartle, Germany could only look on as Bartle achieved his latest triumph - as coach of the British team.

All top seven finishers, including 2020 Olympics host nation Japan, cleared the qualification hurdle for the highly anticipated competition in two years time.

Videos of the last day ...

Medaillenspiegel WM Vielseitigkeit

Individual
1. Rosalind Canter (GBR) mit Allstar B; 24,6
2. Padraig MacCarthy (IRL) mit Mr Chunky; 27,20
3. Ingrid Klimke (Münster) mit SAP Hale Bob OLD, 27,30
4. Andrew Hoy (AUS) mit Vassily de Lassos, 29,80
5. Sarah Ennis (IRL) mit Horseware Stellor Rebound; 30,30
6. Thibaut Vallette (FRA) mit Qing du Briot ENE HN; 30,80
28. Andreas Dibowski (Döhle) mit FRH Corrida; 43,5
33. Kai Rüder (Blieschendorf) mit Colani Sunrise; 47,4
39. Julia Krajewski (Warendorf) mit Chipmunk FRH; 56,3

Team
1. Großbritannien; 88,8 Minuspunkte
2. Irland, 93,0
3. Frankreich; 99,8
4. Japan; 113,9
5. Deutschland (Kai Rüder – Colani Sunrise, Julia Krajewski – Chipmunk FRH; Andrea Dibowski – FRH Corrida, Ingrid Klimke – SAP Hale Bob OLD); 118,2

Translation: Heather Reimer
Photos: Christophe Tanire

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