The competition in Oxfordshire acted as the London 2012 eventing team qualifying event for Asia-Pacific nations that took part.

New Zealand, led by Clarke Johnstone, claimed victory in the team competition but they had already qualified for London 2012 after claiming team bronze at last year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky meaning that the battle for the remaining slot was between Japan and Australia.

Japan fielded five riders but their first rider Yoshiaki Oiwa was eliminated with a cross country fall.

However, Kenki Sato, Takeaki Tsuchiya and Atsushi Negishi all went clear andat the end of cross country day Japan had a four-penalty lead over Australia.

Australia became vulnerable after Lucinda Fredericks fell on the cross country and Bill Levett had a run-out and their problems worsened when Brook Staples was eliminated for two refusals in the show jumping phase meaning Japan secured their London 2012 Olympic spot.

Japan's best-placed rider Sato said: "It's a miracle.

"This is a dream come true for our country and for my family to qualify for the Olympics and go to Greenwich.

"I owe everything to my horse, and to Michael Jung [the German world champion with whom he is based] who trains me."

The result means that Japan are the ninth nation to qualify for team eventing at London 2012.

Five countries secured their Olympic participation at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with Canada, New Zealand, United States, Germany, and Belgium all booking their spots in London.

France and Sweden qualified as a result of their high placings in the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 team competition and they will all be joining host nation Great Britain.

The two best placed teams from North America and Central and South America at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara in Mexico next month - excluding the US and Canada - will also secure participation in London meaning a total of 11nations qualify directly for the London 2012 through team competitions at FEI Championships.

However, the total number of nations participating in the team competition in London may exceed 11 since additional composite teams made up of a maximum of five athletes and five horses and a minimum of three athletes and three horses from the same nation may qualify through the FEI Olympic Athletes Rankings.

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