Tina Cook says she has one eye on Rio after finishing eighth as the highest ranking Brit at this year's Burghley Horse Trials. Cook was recently named as third reserve for the upcoming European Championships at Blair Castle and was in fine form in Lincolnshire as she finished on a final score of 52.6 aboard Star Witness.
The pair opened with 47.4 in the dressage before moving into tenth after Saturday's cross-country.
A clear ride in Sunday's finale was not enough to trouble the top of the leaderboard with Germany's Michael Jung taking victory on La Biosthetique Sam FBW but it was good enough to finish as the top Brit.
And Cook insists it was a brilliant run for Star Witness as she looks to build towards next year and putting herself in contention for Rio 2016.
“He jumped fantastically and to go into that arena with that amount of atmosphere is incredible because he's only ten and has never experienced anything like it and he jumped a great round,” she said.
“It's been a fantastic experience being here and it always is and I think this has been one of the best Burghleys for a long, long time.
“We have had fantastic weather, the ground has been perfect and it's been a brilliant course.
“I have one eye on Rio, I have three or four horses who all have a chance and I have a few younger ones that are about to go to Blenheim.
“To get a good result on this horse is brilliant and the more horses I have qualified the more chance I have of going.”
While Jung took victory second went to Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy but there was disappointment for his wife Jonelle who went from third to fifth after one fault on Sunday.
William Fox-Pitt was the next best-placed Brit after Cook as the six-time winner finished tenth on young ride Fernhill Pimms while Oliver Townend and Georgie Spence were 11th and 12 respectively.
© Sportsbeat 2015