Teenager Bertram Allen of Ireland won the individual speed jumping at the World Equestrian Games on Tuesday, clinging onto his lead from the morning session to edge Patrice Delaveau of France.
The 19-year-old Allen guided 10-year-old mare Molly Malone V over the 14-fence course in 77.01 seconds.
Cheered on by a partisan crowd in the Normandy city of Caen, Delaveau jumped a clear round on his stallion Orient Express HDC, but finished a fraction behind in 77.18.
Belgian rider Gregory Wathelet also produced a strong run in the afternoon to finish third in 77.33 aboard bay stallion Conrad De Hus, while American Beezie Madden placed fourth on Cortes C in 77.34.
The event contributes to individual and team rankings.
After the morning session, Allen led from Frenchwoman Penelope Leprevost, who clocked 77.82 on her mare Flora De Mariposa and from Sweden's Peder Fedricson, who did 78.86 on 10-year-old gray H&M Sibon.
''It was a good solid round,'' Allen said. ''I didn't quite expect to be that fast.''
Only the top five teams qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, although there is a further opportunity to qualify at Aachen next year, when the top three places will earn a spot.
Britain tops the medals table so far with eight golds, and 13 overall, ahead of Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and Belgium.
The games end on Sunday.
