July 28, 2024 
When Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo crossed the finish line of Pierre Le Goupil’s Olympic cross country track in Paris, the world no. 1 eventer thought she’d gone clear.
After all, they stopped the clock with seven seconds to spare.
But a missed flag at fence 21d saw 15 penalties appear on her scorecard.
“I touched a flag coming out of the triple brushes in the woods, but I would never have imagined that I didn’t jump the jump. I didn’t come back and think I’d done anything but go clear inside the time,” said Canter.
A horse is considered to have missed a flag when “some part of the body is not inside the flags (e.g. one shoulder, or one shoulder and part of one hip),” according to FEI Eventing Rules Art 549.2.
Team Great Britain contested the penalty in the hope that it’d be removed. But the ground jury has ruled that it stands.
All is not lost, however. The British still top the team standings after cross country. But their lead over France has been significantly shortened and Canter’s individual podium odds are all but dashed.
On 82.50 penalties, Britain has just a rail and change in hand over France (87.20). Japan follows in third 93.80 and is thisclose to their first ever Olympic medal in eventing.
Canter now sits in 24th position overall on 38.40 penalties.
Team and individual medals in eventing will be decided on Monday.
