OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Charles plans for Rio to defend showjumping title

By Paul Smith, Sportsbeat, London 2012

SHOWJUMPING hero Peter Charles says he plans to stick around to defend Great Britain's Olympic title in four years time.

TITLE DEFENCE: Peter Charles plans to chase gold in Rio after team showjumping triumph

However Charles, who held his nerve at the very end when knowing a clear round would land home gold ahead of the Netherlands at London 2012, says nothing will top winning in front of home fans at Greenwich Park.

Charles and teammates Nick Skelton, Ben Maher and Scott Brash went into a four-rider showdown with the Netherlands, over eight jumps, after they couldn't be separated following two days of competition.

Skelton and his Dutch counterpart were matched after the first round, before Maher gained the advantage when he went clear and saw Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten pick up eight penalty points.

Brash hit a single fence, as did Marc Houtzager, setting up Charles' winning ride.

"It was like a penalty shootout in football and we got the job done," said the 52-year-old, who also competed in Barcelona and Atlanta.

"We knew we would, once we got that far we weren't going to let it go.

"I'm going to give it a serious shot of getting to Rio. Whatever happens there though will never compare to winning here in Greenwich, in London, with the home fans. Nothing will beat that.

"It's been amazing for the whole team and the showjumping world and the fans, everybody, it's been great."

Edinburgh-born Brash added: "It won't get any better than this. We didn't go into it as the favourites in the eyes of others but we had confidence we could do it."

© Sportsbeat 2012