MHAIRI SPENCE missed out on a medal in the women's relay at the European Championships in Bath in a breathtaking finish.

Spence, the 2012 world champion, and 2014 world champion Samantha Murray looked set to claim gold having led by 28 points after claiming the fencing and swimming competitions.

But, in wet conditions, the British girls slipped to fourth place after two refusals and a barrier down in the riding event for a total of 251 points which meant a 16-second deficit going into the final combined run-shoot.

Murray held the position but Spence moved into the bronze-medal place behind runaway winners Germany, guided home by world and Olympic champion Lena Schoneborn, and Russia.

But the Scot was overhauled on the final lap by the Lithuanian Lina Batuleviciute and failed to add to the team silver she won in 2009 and individual bronze in 2006.

Spence, from Farr, near Inverness, but based in Bath, was a reserve in the individual event which begins tomorrow but missed out when fellow-Scot Freyja Prentice was declared fit to compete.

Murray and Spence led after the swim with a time of 2 mins 02.37 seconds for 333 points and also took first place in the fencing with 242 points before it all went wrong on the ride.

Germany finished with 1379 points, Russia took the silver with 1372 and Lithuania bronze (1359) with Great Britain five points back.