Britain miss out on showjumping medal

Calvaro is tended before a clear round with Whitaker

Germany won the team jumping event at the Sydney Olympics on Thursday with Switzerland just behind them in second spot and Brazil taking the bronze after a dramatic jump-off against France.

Britain's slim medal hopes were dashed as they finished in eighth place - but both Michael and John Whitaker, and Geoff Billington, qualified for the individual showjumping event.

Germany took the gold, with Switzerland in silver-medal position and Brazil taking the bronze.

Britain's John Whitaker had recorded an immaculate clear round to keep alive Britain's hopes.

Riding Calvaro, Whitaker recovered from compiling a disastrous 24.75 faults on day one to move Britain up to ninth place at a rain-soaked Equestrian Centre in Sydney on Thursday morning.

His brother Michael Whitaker, Geoff Billington and Carl Edwards managed moderate rounds.

But Britain still faced a steep uphill battle to get on the podium in the final round and were only able to claw back one place, finishing in eighth.

John Whitaker said after his clear: "He jumped great today, really good. I'm pleased with that.

Stuck in

"The ground's totally different, we've had a lot of rain overnight and different conditions can affect different horses."

Germany, with two riders backing up from the team which won the same event at Atlanta, had a best three-rider total of 15 penalties after the two rounds, ahead of Switzerland on 16.

Brazil and France were tied on 24.

The winning German quartet was Ludger Beerbaum, Lars Nieberg, Marcus Ehning and Otto Becker.

Brazil's Rodgrio Pessoa, the 1998 world equestrian games individual champion, managed a clear round in the last ride of the jump-off to give Brazil the bronze medal.

Their fans rejoiced in the stands, led by French Open tennis champion Gustavo Kuerten.

The teams event, known as the Nations Cup, was also the second and third qualifying rounds for Sunday's individual final.

The top 45 jumpers progressed to the final, including Pessoa.