Germany, Australia and Britain will start their race for the first Olympic eventing team medals in the final component of the three-day eventing at the Shatin Equestrian Venue Tuesday night after a tight finish in the dressage and cross-country competitions.

Less than one show jumping ahead, Germany is the top-ranked team on 158 penalty points with Australia second on 162 and Britain third on 173.70 after Monday's cross-country leg of the equestrian eventing competition.

The top three teams are closely ranked, with only 15.70 penalty points between the first and third positions.

The New Zealand equestrian team is out of medal chances because its top rider Andrew Nicholson has been eliminated after falling from his horse during the cross-country competition.

Three-day eventing combines the dressage, cross-country and jumps.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2008)