Dujardin wins individual dressage gold

LONDON (AFP) –

Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin, seen here on August 7, won individual dressage gold, the London Olympic hosts’ first ever medal in the event.

Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin won individual dressage gold with a record score on Thursday, the London Olympic hosts’ first ever medal in the event.

Dujardin, part of the British team to win the team dressage title on Tuesday, beat Adelinde Cornelissen of the Netherlands with Laura Bechtolsheimer also of Britain taking the bronze.

Dujardin lived up to her favourite’s status on Valegro with a massive score of 90.089 percent, with Dutch rival Cornelissen on 88.196 and Bechtolsheimer on 84.339.

The 27-year-old Dujardin’s show-stealing performance in front of an ecstatic 23,000 capacity-crowd brought the curtain down on a sensational Games for Britain’s equestrians at Greenwich Park.

On Monday their show jumpers led by Nick Skelton won their first team gold in 60 years, followed 24 hours later by Dujardin, Bechtolsheimer and Carl Hester winning an historic team dressage title.

Last week the three-day eventing team, featuring Zara Phillips, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, picked up silver behind Germany.