GB land first European crown
Great Britain's dressage riders have been crowned European team champions for the first time.
And the quartet of Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer, Charlotte Dujardin and Emile Faurie did it in emphatic fashion in Rotterdam.
Their total score of 238.678 left dressage heavyweights Germany and Holland floundering as Britain showcased their London 2012 gold medal credentials in the final major dressage championship before next year's Olympics.
Britain were team runners-up at the 2009 Europeans in Windsor and in last year's World Equestrian Games, but those achievements were eclipsed thanks to some outstanding individual performances.
Hester posted a new personal best score of 82.568% on Uthopia, while Great Britain debutant Dujardin also recorded a career-high figure, scoring 78.830% with Valegro.
Bechtolsheimer, a multi-world and European medalist, recorded 77.280% with Mistral Hojris, and although Faurie's score with Elmegardens Marquis could be discounted, he was also above 70% and inside the top 20.
There is now the prospect of more British success in the weekend's individual events - the grand prix special on Saturday, followed by Sunday's showpiece freestyle finale.
