Lucy Wiegersma insists the medals are still up for grabs at the European Eventing Championships despite sitting in fourth in Sweden after day one.
Great Britain’s eventing team won eight successive European titles from 1995 only for Germany to end that run on home soil two years ago – a prelude to their London 2012 success.
And the German’s recent run of fine form looks set to continue in Malmo with their two opening riders Ingrid Klimke and Dirk Schrade sitting first and third respectively with over half of the 61-strong field having completed their dressage tests.
Britain’s Wiegersma is currently occupying fourth on Simon Porloe after picking up a score of 45.2 penalties, while Pippa Funnell and Mirage d’Elle are tenth.
But with Saturday’s tight, twisting cross-country course still to come, Wiegersma isn’t giving up hope of forcing her way onto the podium just yet.
"He [Simon Porloe] just got a bit bright and a bit sharp and I couldn't quite ride him as much as I had wanted," said Wiegersma.
"It really showed up in the halt and rein-back, which was very expensive, but overall he coped pretty well.
"I think it is going to be a whole different competition on Saturday. I think the time will be incredibly tight to get, but I think the course will really suit my horse because he is very well balanced."
Meanwhile, former European individual champion Funnell marked her first British team appearance in a major championship since the Athens Olympics nine years ago with a solid score of 47.6.
"With him [Mirage d'Elle], it really is like playing roulette," said Funnell, who was sidelined from London 2012 selection when her horses Redesigned and Billy Beware suffered injuries last year.
"The best tests he has done have been when I haven't ridden him immediately beforehand.
"I was very much coming here to get as good a tune out of him as I could, and I think we did. His changes were better than they have ever been."
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