Germany in pole position in dressage

Isabell Werth is poised to repeat her dressage gold

Germany are leading both the team and individual dressage events after the first day's competition.

They are in a strong position to win a fifth consecutive Olympic gold in the team dressage event.

And German rider Isabell Werth has a narrow lead over long-time Dutch rival Anky van Grunsven in the individual tournament.

Bronze medal hopefuls Britain are almost 400 points behind in sixth place.

World and Olympic champion Werth performed a mistake-free Grand Prix test on Gigolo.

"I was really satisfied with our test," Werth said, "but Gigolo (her horse) was in a very good mood, he was fighting for me."

Unusual mistakes

Werth scored 76.32% on an overcast and sometimes rainy day to be just ahead of van Grunsven on 75.00.

Alexandra Simons de Ridder of Germany was third on 74.2, with the Netherlands' Ellen Bontje on 71.44.

Van Grunsven was left rueing a couple of unusual mistakes in her routine with her horse Bonfire.

"He made one big mistake and two minor mistakes," Sjef Jansenn, van Grunsven's coach, said of Bonfire.

The horse was stunning - he's an elegant and fine horse which did itself justice. It's his first time in such a big atmosphere but he kept so concentrated. It was a solid start for the team

  Emile Faurie, British dressage competitor

"He hardly makes any mistakes. It came as a complete surprise, perhaps he lost concentration."

The first round of dressage, which concludes on Wednesday, also doubles as the team event and the solid rounds by Werth and van Grunsven lifted their nations to the top two spots.

Germany, champions since the Los Angeles Games of 1984, lead on 3,675 points from the Netherlands on 3,661 with the United States in third place on 3,403 points.

Barring disaster, only Germany or the Netherlands appear able to win the team gold.

Britain, chasing the US, Australia (3,317) and Spain (3,301), have 3,296 after the performances of Emile Faurie on Rascher Hopes (1,674) and Carl Hester on Argentile Gullit (1622).

"The horse was stunning," Faurie said. "He's an elegant and fine horse who did himself justice. It's his first time in such a big atmosphere but he kept so concentrated. It was a solid start for the team."

Hester was less enthusiastic, saying: "It's the first time I've scored less than 65%.

"We produced lots of good movements, but I had to ride tactfully today - he was a little on edge."