DORSET star William Fox-Pitt produced a clear round in the showjumping stage of the eventing competition at the Rio Olympic Games this afternoon.

The 47-year-old Sturminster Newton rider was faultless on board Chilli Morning to boost Team GB, who, along with Fox-Pitt, had a day to forget in the cross country stage yesterday.

Having only returned to the sport in April after suffering a serious head injury in a fall last October, Fox-Pitt initially held the lead after the dressage stage of the competition over the weekend but dropped through the field after the second stage of the competition.

Fox-Pitt said: "It was really great to finish on a good note after the disappointment of Monday," said Fox-Pitt, who made the top-25 individual final on Chilli Morning, but his team-mates all missed out.

"With a bit more luck, we would have been up there. We just didn't have that luck with us.

"It is a very up and down sport, and we had a down day yesterday. It was very, very expensive and very disappointing.

"But it is very exciting for the future with the young horses we have in what is a very strong team. Maybe it is going to be Tokyo 2020 for us. I keep on dreaming.

"You need that bit of luck on the day, and we didn't have it."

Britain were left to rue cross-country run-outs - they bring an automatic 20 penalties - for all four British riders, as they ended up way off the medal pace.

Fox-Pitt finished 12th in the individual competition after jumping another clear round with Chilli Morning.

Germany's Michael Jung, riding Sam FBW, retained his Olympic title, becoming the first rider since Todd in Seoul 28 years ago to win successive individual gold medals.

Jung triumphed by an emphatic margin of 7.1 penalties from France's Astier Nicolas, riding Piaf De B'Neville, with America's Phillip Dutton taking bronze aboard Mighty Nice.

Todd, meanwhile, jumped clear second time around and moved up four places to a finishing position of seventh, and Ireland's Jonty Evans, on Cooley Rorkes Drift, filled ninth spot.