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Chris Burton & Santano II - Sam Griffiths & Paulank Brockagh in the first day of Dressage in Rio

Jon Stroud Media

Aussie eventers in second position

Australia is holding down second position in the eventing team competition after strong performances from Chris Burton and Sam Griffiths on opening day.

Only 1.4 penalties separate the Aussies (83.90) from leading nation Germany (82.50), but with a second day of dressage, followed by cross country and show jumping still to contest, the competition is just beginning.

Individually Burton and his ride Santano II are occupying second position and Griffiths with his horse Paulank Brockagh are ninth.

Burton couldn’t be happier with his first phase performance in which he rode to a score of 37.60. Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt is setting the pace with a score of 37.

“He makes my job really easy, that lovely horse. He’s super,” Burton said.

“I was nervous as I rode down to the warm-up but I thought, come on Chris if you ever get a chance to enjoy yourself it’s on this horse in this arena at the Olympics.

“After the medium trot I heard a bit of a gasp from the crowd and I thought, that’s not a bad gasp.”

Burton’s team-mate Griffiths was occupying third position at the lunch break after receiving a score of 46.30.

“I was pleased with my performance,” Griffiths said. “It’s just a few marks off my personal best and I was hoping to go better than that, but the judging is tough at the Olympic Games.

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