Olympics equestrian: Great Britain win showjumping team gold

Great Britain won Olympic team jumping gold for the first time since London 2012 with a near-faultless performance in Paris.

The British trio of Ben Maher, Harry Charles and Scott Brash picked up just two time penalties to top the standings at the stunning Chateau de Versailles, with the United States second and France in third.

Their medal comes 12 years after Maher, Brash and Charles’ father Peter won team jumping gold at the London Olympics alongside Nick Skelton – 60 years after Great Britain’s previous gold in the event in Helsinki in 1952.

Charles had just turned 13 when his father stood atop the Olympic podium but now joins him in the history books.

He, Maher and Brash secured Team GB’s ninth gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

The first of those nine also came in equestrian – in the team eventing.

Maher, on Dallas Vegas Batilly, was first up for Britain, and the Tokyo 2020 individual gold medallist picked up just a solitary time penalty to lead the standings after the opening round.

Charles, now 25 and at his second Games, backed that up with a clear round on Romeo 88.

Great Britain’s final combination – Brash on Jefferson – were the last to jump. Cool and collected, they brushed a couple of fences but went clear with just one time penalty to their names.

“I knew when Scott went in we had the best man to do it,” Maher, 41, told BBC Sport.

“But we didn’t leave him the margin. If he’d had a fence down that could have been expensive. Honestly they were two of the best riding rounds I have seen in a very long time.

“All of our horses didn’t knock a jump down all day so I am very proud of the team.”

Brash, 38, added: “There is pressure on all of us when it’s only a three-man team. Every score counts.

“I was fortunate to be in that position. The guys rode unbelievably to get me into that position and I wanted to deliver for them.”