Ros and Allstar B are the new World Champions!
As the ‘anchor’ combination for the British team, Ros and Alby were the last to perform their dressage test for Britain at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina, and finished the first phase in an impressive 3rd place.
Foot perfect across country, coming home clear and inside the optimum time, the pair found themselves in second place, the dressage leaders having faulted on the course.
This made them the penultimate pair to show jump on the final day – which had been delayed by 24 hours due to Hurricane Florence. Allstar B was impeccable, with Ros showing not the tiniest display of nerves. A clear round guaranteed Team Gold for Great Britain, and when the over night leader, Germany’s Ingrid Klimke, lowered the very last fence on the course, the individual title was Ros’s too.
Ros had led the British team to its first world Gold medal since 2010, also won in America, and the lowest team score in world championship history. It is the first time Britain has won both individual and team gold at a single WEG, and Ros is the first British individual winner since Zara Tindall claimed victory 12 years ago in Aachen.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in. Allstar B was absolutely amazing, a hero,” Ros exclaimed. “I had an amazing experience in there. I kept saying to myself ‘just let him do his job’ and I am so proud. He is phenomenal. There were quite a few tears when I found out, which isn’t normal for me.
“It’s just incredible for me and the whole support team behind Team Great Britain – the most incredible feeling, and a very surreal day. The team around us is phenomenal. They make the dream come true really.”
Photo © Jon Stroud Media / BEF