Vrieling posted the only clean run for the Dutch, who had led the standings from yesterday, but it was enough to claim the gold ahead of host nation France and bronze medallists the United States.

Jeroen Dubbeldam and Gerco Schroder were part of the Dutch squad that won the country's first team jumping world crown in Aachen in 2006, and on board Zenith SFN and Glock's London respectively, they made it number two in Normandy today alongside Maikel van der Vleuten and his mount VDL Groep Verdi TN.

All three had faulted during today's final trip round but after Vrieling guided VDL Bubalu to a flawless performance, The Netherlands could celebrate.

"The pressure was really on and I think every rider felt it today," said Dubbeldam.

"We all had little mistakes everywhere and it was good that we were in the lead yesterday because if you are in the lead, and everyone does the same thing, then you stay in the lead.

"I had one fault and one time fault and you know you cannot afford any more mistakes.

"Maikel came second and had also a mistake and then it gets exciting and you think maybe it's getting out of hand, but Jur brought us back into the game."

Jur Vrieling on VDL Bubalu posted the only clear round to help the Dutch to the world title ©AFP/Getty Images



Clear rounds from Penelope Leprevost on Flora de Mariposa and Kevin Staut on Reveur de Hurtebise helped the host nation move from fourth to second, while Beezie Madden led the US to third on the podium on board Cortes C.

Defending champions Germany had been in the bronze medal position but only one clear run from Christian Ahlmann on Codex One was not enough for a place on the podium as they finished fourth.

With Brazil finishing fifth - already guaranteed a place at Rio 2016 - the final Olympic qualifying spot went to sixth-placed Sweden, who just edged out Ireland.

Madden has usurped Frenchman Patrice Delaveau at the top of the individual standings with one day of competition to go on Saturday (September 6).

Delaveau, on board Orient Express, has slipped down to fourth with Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson on Casall ASK and Soren Pedersen of Denmark and his mount Tailormade Esperanza de Rebel, second and third respectively.

There was further Dutch success on the first day of the driving competition at the La Prairie course in Caen, as four-time world champion Ijsbrand Chardon and compatriot Koos de Ronde sit first and second on the leaderboard after posting scores of 42.12 and 46.25 respectively.

German Christoph Sandmann lies in provisional third followed by Sweden's Fredrik Persson and Ernesto Colman Mena of Uruguay who complete the top five.

Ijsbrand Chardon leads the way in the driving competition after a day of Dutch success in Normandy ©FEI/Marie de Ronde-Oudemans




Defending world champion Joanne Eccles of Great Britain is in pole position going into tomorrow's final round of the vaulting competition after a score of 8.513 in the technical test.

Italian Anna Cavallaro and American Mary McCormick put in impressive displays to power up the standings into second and third, knocking Denmark's Rikke Laumann and Swiss Simone Jaiser out of the podium positions.

Erik Oese continued his strong showing from yesterday as he improved from third to first in the men's competition with a score of 8.400, enough to put him clear of French duo Nicolas Andreani and Jacques Ferrari.

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