Aussies ride home for team bronze

Stuart Tinney was unable to recapture the glory days of the Sydney 2000 Olympics but he and teammates Sam Griffiths and Chris Burton still managed to hold on for bronze in the team three-day event at Rio’s Deodoro equestrian centre.

With Shane Rose eliminated from competition in yesterday’s cross country phase, the three remaining Aussie riders had to be in top form as they entered the final day of show jumping in gold medal position.

But they faced an uphill battle after Tinney knocked down rails at four of the course’s 15 fences, recording four penalty points for each, plus a one-point time penalty, for a heavy total of 17 penalty points which dropped Australia into third position.

Griffiths had a clear round, but when the final three French and German riders did the same the  pressure was really on Burton to follow suit. 

Riding Santano II, Burton clipped two fences, including the second last, but he did well to avoid a disaster at the final hurdle where a mistake would have handed the bronze to New Zealand.

France, the only one of the top four teams to have the buffer of a fourth rider, won the gold on 169 penalty points, followed by Germany on 172.8 and Australia on 175.3.

Burton said the team had “far and away” exceeded expectations and although his horse showed his greenness today he had been “a little superstar all weekend”.

“I am relieved we’ve got our teammate Shane Rose onto the podium. He has been unbelievable, the anchor of our team.”

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AOC Media Team

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