Tamarillo's injury excludes Fox-Pitt from Games

Team GB have confirmed that following investigation, a slight injury to William Fox-Pitt's horse Tamarillo will prevent him from competing further in the Olympic games.

The horse sustained the injury during the cross-country phase of the eventing competition and it will prevent him from being presented for the final veterinary inspection prior to the show jumping phase.

The team said that though the injury is not serious, Tamarillo suffered a knock to the stifle - a horse's rear knee joint - and as horse welfare was a prime consideration it would prevent the animal from progressing into the show jumping phase.

The duo had been in fifth place overall in the eventing competition.

Equestrian Team Leader Will Connell, said: “Of course the whole team is extremely upset for William, Tamarillo and the owners of the horse. William had an outstanding result when winning at Badminton this year and this is a very unfortunate way to end his Olympic campaign.

"I am sure that we will see William and Tamarillo returning to the world stage in the near future."

The set back has dropped the team to fourth, but under the new format of the individual competition means that the show jumping results are more important than previously.

"We also have Philippa Funnell lying seventh and Leslie Law in eleventh. The new format for the individual competition requires them to jump two rounds of show jumping to decide the individual medals, which means this phase will be far more influential than in previous Olympic Games and World Championships,” said Mr Connell.

(SP)