Jung overhauls German team-mate to stay on course for European Eventing Championships title defence

Michael Jung moved into the lead after the cross-country phase of the European Eventing Championships ©Getty Images

Michael Jung overtook German compatriot Sandra Auffarth at the end of the cross-country discipline to close in on a successful defence of his Longines International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Eventing European Championships at a rainy Blair Castle in Scotland.

Jung is becoming very used to success on British soil, having won last weekend's Burghley Horse Trials in addition to the Olympic gold medal at London 2012.

Riding FischerTakinou, he finished within the allotted time to remain on his dressage score of 33.5 and keep alive his pursuit of a third successive European title, something that would tie him with Britain's Virginia Elliott in the all-time stakes.

“The ground was slippy but my horse was fantastic and really fresh at the time,” said an elated Jung, the world champion.

“He always keeps going and has trust in me.

"He is a fast horse with a lot of thoroughbred blood, I set out quite slowly and helped him a bit, but then towards the end I said to him, ‘go faster’ and he did, which was a wonderful feeling,”

Image title — Germany's Sandra Auffarth slipped into second place behind team-mate Michael Jung after the cross-country round inthe European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle ©Getty Images

After being interrupted when held before fence five, overnight leader Auffarth produced a smooth and economical round but clocked up 11.2 time penalties to drop below team-mate Michael Jung onto 42.6.

Another of the best rides of the day came from Britain's experienced Pippa Funnell, who performed superbly on Sandman 7 to rack-up just 9.6 time penalties on one of his first events at this level.

Team-mate Izzy Taylor also held her nerve to remain third individually on KBIS Briarlands Matilda with a score of 44 points.

This has kept the British team in second place overall on 169.3 penalties behind Germany with 122.7 penalties, while France lie third with 179.7.

Action is due to continue tomorrow with the concluding jumping phase, with team and individual medals to be decided.