WILTSHIRE rider Kitty King remained in contention for an individual medal as Michael Jung and Germany's mighty eventing team made light of terrible weather conditions to remain firmly on course for a gold medal double at the Longines FEI European Championships in Scotland.

King, based at Lower Stanton St Quintin near Chippenham, and horse Persimmon lie fifth going into tomorrow's showjumping section after torrential rain throughout cross-country day at the spectacular Scottish Highlands venue of Blair Castle took its toll on several combinations, including host nation Great Britain.

Former world number one William Fox-Pitt retired Bay My Hero after two run-outs, while his teammate and fellow London 2012 silver medallist Nicola Wilson had a run-out in the main arena which dropped her from fourth place to 28th.

But the German quartet - Jung, Sandra Auffarth, Ingrid Klimke and Dirk Schrade - head into Sunday's showjumping finale with a landslide lead of more than 46 penalties from second-placed Britain, while France are third.

Reigning Olympic champion Jung can afford to have two fences down on Sunday and still complete a hat-trick of European individual titles, which has not been achieved since Britain's Ginny Leng landed a treble during the mid-1980s.

King had earlier got Britain off to a strong start, relishing the pathfinder role on her senior championship team debut and conquering the course in terms of jumping, while also collecting just 8.4 time faults.

And the 32-year-old revealed the key role played by physiotherapist Kate Davis, who works for the Rugby Football Union and the British Equestrian Federation.

"It was a bit nerve-wracking going first," King said.

"It wasn't the position I assumed I would be going in, but I had a little bit of time to get my head around it and talk it through with Kate. I had a really good plan before I went out and it meant I just could stick to it and be confident.

"Kate is a physio with England Rugby and she works with a lot of psychologists. She spoke to my psychologist before the cross-country and she told her what questions to ask me.

"It is a massive relief. It feels great not to have let anyone down. That was the thing that was panicking me most - letting the others down."

King's Oxfordshire-based teammate Izzy Taylor has an outstanding chance of claiming an individual medal.

Taylor is third overnight, two places ahead of King and Persimmon, while Gemma Tattersall and Arctic Soul are seventh, Lambourn-based Laura Collett ninth aboard Grand Manouevre and King's team colleague Pippa Funnell 10th on Sandman 7.

Jung, Taylor and Tattersall were the only three combinations from 64 starters to jump clear inside the time on a day that saw 14 eliminations and five retirements.

First-day leader Holly Woodhead, who is based in Coate in Swindon, is in 22nd position on DHI Lupison.