WILTSHIRE rider Andrew Hoy moved into fourth position in the closing stages of the opening day of dressage in the Olympic Games eventing at Greenwich Park today.
Seven-time Olympian Hoy, based at Badbury north of Marlborough, briefly jumped into the medal positions on horse Rutherglen with 41.70 penalty points, as his Australian team continued to occupy the gold medal position in the team standings.
Germany's Ingrid Klimke and Butts Abraxxas late moved into top spot, taking over from compatriot Dirk Schrade.
Britain's Mary King and Imperial Cavalier lay third in the individual standings.
Mildenhall rider Jonelle Richards was the first Wiltshire-based rider out this morning as the dressage element got underway this morning.
Richards, riding for New Zealand, totalled 56.70 penalty points on Flintstar to lie 13th with 14 riders still to complete their tests on the first day.
Nicola Wilson got Great Britain's bid for an eventing team medal off to a solid start.
Wilson and Opposition Buzz, renowned as one of the world's leading cross-country combinations, held their own during the early stages in the dressage phase with 51.70 penalties.
Alex Peternell, based at Hinton near Chippenham, had a tougher day.
The South African, who won a late place at London 2012 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the decision of his national Olympic committee to include another rider totalled 70.6 penalty points aboard Asih to be well down the field.
Little Cheverell-based Australian couple Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks, Marston-based Brazilian Marcelo Tosi and Marlborough-based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson compete on tomorrow's second day of dressage.
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE PROGRESS OF WILTSHIRE'S OLYMPIANS AT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS SECTIONS OF THE WEBSITES GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK AND WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK AND ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport
DON'T MISS REACTION AND PICTURES FROM THE 2012 OLYMPICS IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES
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