OLIVER Townend has guided Team GB to its first eventing Olympic gold medal in almost 50 years.

But it was disappointment in the individual competition after he just missed out on a podium place.

Going into the Equestrian Park on his ride Ballaghmor Class in the final round of the team competition, the 38-year-old from Dudleston Heath had the luxury of knowing he could knock four fences down and still win gold, such was the team’s dominance over the four-day competition which came to its conclusion this morning (Monday).

All three British riders were making their Games debuts, but they delivered high-class displays to see Britain finish on a score of 86.30.

The trio of Oliver Townend, Laura Collett and Tom McEwen led by 17.9 penalties following their outstanding cross-country rounds on Sunday.

And they comfortably retained top spot, with McEwen going clear on Toledo De Kerser, Collett having four faults aboard London 52 and Townend also collecting four with Ballaghmor Class.

It is only Britain’s third Olympic team crown in eventing after Stockholm in 1956 and Munich in 1972.

Australia took silver and France bronze.

Following that round Townend said: “I didn’t know how much we had in hand, so I put myself under a bit of pressure, but these guys made it very easy for me.

“It has not sunk in. We have got another round to jump, so we focus on that, but there will be a big celebration and I don’t think it will be with a cup of tea and a biscuit.

“Let’s hope we can inspire the next generation of kids. We are all from pretty normal backgrounds. It shows that hard work and dedication pays off.”

The scores were tight going into the individual competition less than three hours later with just one fence separating the top four.

World number one Townend, who had been in gold medal position going into the showjumping round, slipped to second after he knocked down a fence following his earlier ride, while McEwen has moved up to bronze.

McEwen only picked up a small time penalty to move up the rankings to take silver, but Townend knocked a fence again which pushed him out of the top three.

But Townend was smiling soon after as he joined his teammates on the podium to collect their gold medals on what was an Olympic debut for all three.