GB's Hindle makes dressage final

Great Britain's Hindle was born in Preston but now lives in Germany

Great Britain's Emma Hindle exceeded her own expectations on Saturday to qualify for the individual dressage grand prix freestyle final on Lancet.

Hindle, 33, scored 70.440% to finish ninth in the second qualifier in Hong Kong, with the top 15 making the final.

Germany's gold medal favourite Isabell Werth, on Satchmo, ensured she finished in first place with 75.200%.

Britain's Laura Bechtolsheimer score of 67.160% on Mistral Hojris was not enough and she was down in 18th.

Anky van Grunsven from Holland was second with 74.960% on Salinero while Germany's Heike Kemmer, aboard Bonaparte, came third with 73.000%.

Both Kemmer and Werth were part of the Germany team which took gold in Thursday's Olympic team dressage event - the seventh successive Games triumph for the Germans.

My result is more than I ever dreamed of as we had our ups and downs this season GB's Emma Hindle

After the event, Preston-born Hindle admitted she had not expected to make the final.

"My result is more than I ever dreamed of as we had our ups and downs this season," she said.

"It is all very well being good but to do it when it matters is what is important and is what we all strive to achieve."

"I'm really happy with him [Lancet] - all week I had been focusing on my Grand Prix preparation for the team.

"I had a really positive feeling throughout the test and he just got better and better. I'm really proud of the way he coped with the atmosphere and conditions and I have proved to myself I can do it when it really matters."

Bechtolsheimer's performance was an improvement on the 65.917% she scored in the first qualifier on Wednesday and she expressed little regret afterwards.

"I'm very happy with my horse," she said.

"Last time he was a little tense but this time he was cooler going into the arena and I could ride him more actively."

The individual dressage final takes place on Tuesday.