Rio Olympics: Team GB's oldest team member delivers clear round in showjumping
By Dev Trehan
Last Updated: 14/08/16 7:39pm
Great Britain's oldest Rio Olympics team member, John Whitaker, showed that age is no barrier as the showjumping competition began in Deodoro, on Sunday.
The 61-year-old delivered a brilliant clear round on Ornellaia as Britain's anchorman rider, after Nick Skelton (Big Star), Ben Maher (Tic Tac) and Michael Whitaker (Cassionato) each collected four faults.
The opening one-round event is a prelude to three further days of jumping, incorporating team and individual events, later this week.
And Yorkshireman Whitaker ensured a solid start for the reigning Olympic team champions as he enjoyed a dream opening after arriving at his sixth Games.
"It was a very good round. I was very happy with it from start to finish," he said.
"Everything went to plan, and it is nice to get the first day done with a bit of confidence for the rest of the week.
"She is not a flamboyant horse when she jumps, but she just does the job. She is a very easy, straightforward horse. You know what to expect every day."