Bost, 47, picked up his first individual title, to add to his 1990 world team crown, with a near faultless performance around the Frank Rothenberger designed course.

Riding Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois, the French veteran went round the first course picking up only a single time fault, with only Olympic champion Steve Guerdat of Switzerland and Brash on Hello Sanctos putting in clear rounds.

Guerdat came into the final day of action down in the individual standings and when his horse Nino des Buissonnets clattered into the final triple combination on the second tour round, the Swiss was out of contention.

Overnight leader Maher followed up his first round score of 4.00 with a brilliant clear round second time out which was enough to edge out teammate Brash on Cella, who despite another clear round finished on a final score of 6.72 to claim silver.

That left Bost knowing that one pole down would cost him gold, but the man from Boulogne-Billancourt in tandem with his 13-year-old mare produced a gold-medal winning performance by negotiating the ten fences with pace, coolness and style to record a clear round and take home the European crown.

"This is my first senior individual gold medal, I have some team championship medals, but never an individual one," said an ecstatic Bost afterwards, who follows illustrious compatriots Pierre Durand, Éric Navet, Alexandra Ledermann and Kevin Staut as winners of individual European titles.

"I've been riding a long time and I like to have a lot of contact with my horses, but my training is no different to any of the other riders."

Roger-Yves Bost (centre) takes the plaudits after finishing ahead of Britons Ben Maher (left) and Scott Brash in Herning