Dressed for action

Britain has a medal chance in the dressage competition

The Great Britain dressage team swings into action on Tuesday, in the first day of Olympic competition leading to both individual and team medals. But, as the BBC's Lee McKenzie reports, the German team is the one to beat.

The British dressage team is not fancied to win gold in Sydney, but they will do their best to make a bold bid for one of the other two medal positions.

To be realistic, they have an outside chance of reaching the top three, but they are determined to give it a go.

The selectors have chosen a line-up that blends experience with innovation, led by the country's top dressage rider, 45-year-old Richard Davison.

A company director from Staffordshire, he also represented his country four years ago at the Atlanta Olympics.

Experience

Team-mate Emile Faure, who lives in Oxfordshire, moved to England from South Africa in 1980.

He is another with Olympic experience - at Barcelona eight years ago.

The other two team members also have something in common. Olympic debutant Carl Hester grew up in the Isle of Sark; while the team's "new girl", Kirsty Mepham, was born and bred in the Isle of Wight. These days they are both based in Gloucestershire.

Britain's line-up blends youth and experience

The Germans are hot favourites to win the gold medal, with the Dutch a popular tip for silver, so a bronze medal would be the most realistic target for the British quartet.

Four years ago, in Atlanta, where Germany and Holland took first and second places respectively, Great Britain finished eighth.

Once again, the British team face strong competition, and if they manage to win a medal of any colour it will be a major achievement.

The team medals will be decided on Wednesday and the individual placings on Saturday. The individual contest culminates with a session of dressage to music, known as the Grand Prix Kur.