Great Britain grabs 1st Olympic showjumping gold medal in 60 years

PanARMENIAN.Net - Great Britain captured their first Olympic showjumping gold medal in 60 years, winning a dramatic jump-off against the Netherlands.

The two teams were tied on eight penalty points after the team competition, sending the event into a shoot-out over a shortened course.

And while two Dutch riders faltered, Nick Skelton, Ben Maher and Peter Charles all went clear to snatch gold.

Overnight leaders Saudi Arabia took the bronze with a score of 14 points.

It was Britain's first Olympic showjumping medal since 1984 and their first gold since the Helsinki 1952 Games.

A day of high tension came down to a four-rider showdown over eight jumps when Great Britain and the Netherlands could not be separated following two days of competition, BBC News reported.