Team Eventing: Aussies sixth, Germany pip Poms, Phillips takes a fall and grizzled Kiwi guides team to bronze

But the best story of the showjumping phase of the Three Day Event was that the oldest rider in the competition helped steal the bronze from big countries that spend millions to buy equestrian success. While Australians might appreciate the performance of veteran Andrew Hoy and his surviving Brazil Soccer Jerseys team mates Lucinda Fredericks and Chris Burton, it was New Zealand's grand old horseman Mark Todd who really showed the youngsters how to ride. The 56-year-old, voted best rider of the 20th Century, is making a bid for this century as well. Proof that's he's looking ahead was his comment later that "this Olympics came a year too early" his horse Campino. He refused to rule out riding at the Rio Olympics in 2016, when Campino will have developed into a stronger horse. But the biggest applause of the day, naturally, was for the almost good enough British team. The stands rocked with stamping feet and union jacks flapped every time the British riders appeared. In the end, just 2.2 penalty points separated the British team from the Germans. After a near perfect display in the cross country the day before, the Queen's grand daughter's horse High Kingdom muffed a jump and suffered time penalties. The crowd, which included the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Princess Royal, Prince Harry and Prince Michael of Kent, gasped as High Kingdom blundered into a jump built to resemble a red pillar box. Phillips gathered the horse and put him over every obstacle without further faults. But for Britain, the damage was done. The royals clapped politely along with the excited and forgiving hometown crowd as Germany squeaked home to land the gold. Phillips said later: "I'm very disappointed for the team and I hope I haven't let them down." Australia's chances of a medal had been lost on the cross country track, where Sam Griffiths and Clayton Fredericks were eliminated from the event after falls on the treacherous grassy knolls. Other teams which could still field five riders -- taking the scores of their best three -- had a clear advantage. Burton finished ninth in the individual standings but both he and Hoy slipped down Czech Soccer Jerseys the list in the individual jumping final, again dominated by Germans. Germany's Michael Jung and his mount Sam made equestrian history by taking out the individual gold, making them the only combination to hold the world, European and Olympic titles at the same time. Sweden's Sara Algotsson Ostholt knocked a rail and finished with silver, ahead of another German, Sandra Auffarth, with bronze. Next came Kiwi Andrew Nicholson and Britain's stalwarts Mary King and Kristina Cook. Zara Phillips finished in eighth place and Australians Hoy and Burton in 13th and 16th spots.