Australia's Edwina Alexander has extended her lead in the world's richest Jumping competition, the Global Champions Tour, after a second place finish in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. Her blistering form augurs well for next year's Olympic Games.
Australia's Edwina Alexander has extended her lead in the world's richest Jumping competition, the Global Champions Tour, after a second place finish in Rio de Janeiro yesterday.
Only Gerco Schrder (NED) riding Eurocommerce London and Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa aboard Let's Fly enjoyed faultless first rounds in Rio de Janeiro CSI5-star event. Qatar's Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani riding Adolfo FRH was next best with one fault. Alexander and Cevo Itot du Chateau along with Germany's Philipp Weishaupt (Monte Bellini) and Ludger Beerbaum (Chaman), Judy-Ann Melchior (BEL) riding Cha Cha Z, and Britain's Michael Whitaker (Viking) and Ben Maher (Tackeray) each knocked one rail down to be sitting on four faults.
The second round saw the Brits drop out of contention when Michael Whitaker dropped another rail and Ben Maher had two fences down. Alexander, Weishaupt, Beerbaum and Melchior all jumped clear with Alexander clocking the fastest time putting her into fourth.
Disappointment for Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani who added 16 faults in this round to drop well down the order. When Pessoa lowered a rail in a time slower than Alexander's and Weishaupt's, he slipped to fourth. A clear round from Schrder secured his victory and winner's cheque for 320,000, with Alexander taking second place and third to Philipp Weishaupt.
"I am thrilled," said Alexander, "I really wanted to put in a good performance and get as many points as I could. This puts me in a great position for Abu Dhabi."
Australia's Jumping National Performance Director, Stephen Lamb, acknowledges that Alexander's performance is looking strong ahead of next year's Olympic Games.
"Edwina's performances at five star shows this year have been outstanding. She won Cannes and Chantilly and now her second place in Rio further demonstrates that she is at the top of the sport," said Lamb.
After ten shows in eight different countries only the last leg of the 2011 Global Champions Tour series remains. The world's best jumping horses and riders will meet for the final time in Abu Dhabi 24-26 November at the magnificent Al Forsan International Sports Resort.
With 238.00 points Alexander is now 19.5 points ahead of Ludger Beerbaum on the series leader board. Brazil's Alvaro de Miranda is currently third on 194.00. Competition will be fierce in Abu Dhabi as the top order could shuffle considerably. A win is worth 40 points, 37 for second place, 35 points for third and 32 points are earned for fourth place.
Equestrian Australia
