WEST Littleton rider Harry Meade finished in 30th position at the DHL Preis in Aachen, Germany, at the weekend as Great Britain retained the lead after the fifth leg of the FEI Nations Cup event.

Meade, completing individually with Britain's four-rider team represented by Izzy Taylor (fourth), William Fox-Pitt (ninth), Piggy French (13th) and Zara Phillips (25th), was riding Wild Lone.

The host nation filled the first three places through Sandra Auffarth, Ingrid Kilmke and Michael Jung to win the team event at Aachen for the third successive year, but Britain stayed in top spot in the overall standings with a ten-point lead over France.

New Zealand finished fourth, with Marlborough-based Andrew Nicholson and Nereo, winners at Aachen in 2011, the highest placed in sixth.

Mildenhall-based husband and wife team Jonelle and Tim Price were 16th and 20th, riding Faerie Dianimo and Ringwood Skyboy for New Zealand respectively.

Highworth's Paul Tapner (11th on Kilronan) and Badbury's Andrew Hoy (14th on Rutherglen) were part of the Australian team that finished seventh.

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