Tokyo reserve Ros Canter debuts strong start at the Paris Olympics

By Paul Eddison, Sportsbeat

ROS CANTER has had to bide her time for an Olympic debut, but she made it count on a record-breaking day for Team GB’s eventers.

Three years ago in Tokyo, the Hallington native was a reserve as Britain took team eventing gold for the first time in 49 years.

Since then, she has established herself as a medal contender, and on Lordships Graffalo, she made a strong start to her campaign in the dressage component of the eventing.

Canter finished with 23.40 penalty points to sit sixth, while compatriot Laura Collett set a new Olympic record on 17.50.

Tom McEwen, who like Collett was part of the victorious team in Tokyo, sits 11th, with GB’s final day score of 66.70, the lowest ever team total in Olympic history.

And having waited so long for this moment, Canter was delighted with the way she and Walter, as Lordships Graffalo is known at home, got on.

She said: “I’m extremely proud of Walter. I’m really, really pleased with him. I know he’s won the Europeans but he’s only 12 and it feels like we’re still only scratching the surface with him.

“I’ve reminded myself that a lot over the last few weeks, that I’d be happy with a clean run. I’m absolutely thrilled. I’m excited that he could produce that performance on the world stage.”

Canter was the third Brit to get underway in the Gardens of the magnificent Palais de Versailles, her wait for that Olympic bow continuing a little longer.

But it did not faze her in the slightest, with every last minute accounted for before she and Walter entered the arena.

She added: “I very much had a plan. The night before I always write down what I’m going to do each hour. Just so that I know what I’m doing, and I’ve ticked all the boxes. I came in later than the others, Walter had a ride at lunchtime, then I watched the others, so the time does soon go.”

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