sport news Britain in pole position for gold as Oliver Townend, Laura Collett, Tom McEwen ...

sport news Britain in pole position for gold as Oliver Townend, Laura Collett, Tom McEwen ...
sport news Britain in pole position for gold as Oliver Townend, Laura Collett, Tom McEwen ...

Great Britain's eventers will go for Olympic gold in team and individual competitions on Monday after a vintage collection of cross-country performances at Sea Forest Park.

World number one Oliver Townend, Laura Collett and Tom McEwen hold a huge lead of 17.9 penalties in the team event.

Yorkshireman Townend, meanwhile, also heads the individual race for gold on 23.60, with a narrow advantage over Germany's Julia Krajewski. Collett occupies bronze medal position and McEwen is sixth.

Oliver Townend is in a strong position for two golds, in the team and individual events

Oliver Townend is in a strong position for two golds, in the team and individual events

Laura Collett, who suffered serious injuries in a 2013 fall,  was in top form on her Games debut

Laura Collett, who suffered serious injuries in a 2013 fall,  was in top form on her Games debut

Townend set the tone, jumping clear five seconds inside the optimum time aboard Ballaghmor Class, before Collett and McEwen immaculately followed suit.

Collett, who lost most of her sight in one eye and suffered multiple fractures following a cross-country fall eight years ago, proved in equally blistering form aboard London 52.

Then McEwen completed a glorious hat-trick on Toledo De Kerser, meaning that Britain lead the team event on a score of 78.30, with Australia second and France third. Ireland, meanwhile, lie eighth.

Townend was guaranteed top spot heading into Monday's showjumping finale after overnight leader - double Olympic champion Michael Jung - knocked out a frangible fence pin two thirds of the way through his round on Chipmunk FRH to incur 11 penalties.

One round of showjumping will decide team medals at Tokyo Equestrian Park on Monday,

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