Oliver Townend falters at the final hurdle
Oliver Townend registered seventh and eight-place finishes at the Luhmuhlen four-star event in Germany.
Oliver Townend registered seventh and eight-place finishes at the Luhmuhlen four-star event in Germany.
Shropshire's Townend, who missed out on a place in Britain's five-strong eventing team for the Olympics, was seventh on ODT Sonas Rovatio and eighth on Armada.
The Dudleston Heath rider paid the penalty for collecting 12 faults on Armada in the final showjumping phase, slipping out of third place.
The 2009 Badminton and Burghley champion had produced excellent clear cross-country rounds on both his horses.
Reigning world and European champion Michael Jung sent an ominous warning to his Olympic rivals by winning the event.
Jung also landed the three-star class, taking both sections by comfortable margins that underlined powerful London gold medal credentials.
The German star could afford to have two showjumping fences down and still take the four-star title following Australian Andrew Hoy's implosion on Rutherglen.
Hoy, second behind Jung overnight, accrued 14 faults to drop outside the top five.