It was a win for Great Britain at the penultimate leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup series in Waregem, Belgium, this weekend; collecting the maximum 100 points, GB are now just 10 points behind the current series leaders France with just one competition left in the 2018 series.

On a team score of 86.4 penalties, the British team ranked second behind Germany on a score of 78.9 after the dressage. Solid show jumping performances from the Brits added just six penalties to their total to hold second place going into the final cross country phase, with the German’s adding nothing to their score. However the influential cross country saw faults from the leading Germany team which dropped them down to finish third, the GB team added a total of 38 penalties to their score to finish on a score of 130.4 and move them up into first place with France taking second place on 136.4.

Sarah Bullimore and her own and Christopher and Susan Gillespie’s Valentino V, were the best placed of the British squad, finishing in eighth place on a score of 42.8, after picking up four faults from the show jumping and 9.6 time from the cross country to add to their dressage score of 29.2. Flora Harris ended on exactly the same score as Sarah but took ninth place on Caroline Harris’ Amazing VIII and Millie Dumas finished in 13th on her own and Ellie Guy’s Artistiek with a score of 44.8 having added 16.8 time penalties from the cross country to their dressage of 28. Will Furlong posted a dressage score of 31.2 penalties and secured a clear show jumping round on The Acorn Syndicate’s Collien P 2, but an unfortunate fall in the cross country ended their individual campaign.

Only one event remains in the 3* series and Great Britain’s win closes the gap on the current leaders as France head to the final in Boekelo, Netherlands, (11 – 14 October) on a total of 490 and Britain on 480.

Away from the Nations Cup squad, Zara Tindall enjoyed a good run on her experienced partner High Kingdom, owned by Gleadhill Stud Ltd and Trevor Hemmings, to finish in 12th place with Harry Meade taking 14th on Mrs Nigella Hall and Mrs Tamsie Castle’s Tenareze.