The Australian Jumping team have delivered Australia’s best-ever World Championship performance and in doing so have qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Competing at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA, the team of Edwina Alexander (Cevo Itot du Chateau), Chris Chugg (Vivant), James Patterson-Robinson (Niack de L’Abbaye) and Matt Williams (Urleven Van De Helle) have placed seventh in the 10 Team Final.

As the top placed nation from the regions of Central & Eastern Europe, Asia and Oceania at the WEG, Australia has already qualified for London 2012.

The top five placed teams - Germany, France, Belgium, Brazil and Canada – have also now qualified for the 15 Team Olympic competition.

The Australians started their first ever Team Final at a World Championships in seventh place after qualifying and a medal was within reach as only six points separated the teams.

Australian Champions Chugg and Vivant had one hiccup when they ran out of room in a five stride line and knocked down a plank fence for four faults.

“The plan was to do eight to number 7 and then wait for 5 to fence 8, but we jumped in big and I ran out of room. He was great, I am happy with him,” said Chugg of his 12-year-old bay stallion.

Williams, 25, and Ureleven De Van Helle were next to ride for Australia. They had incurred 16 faults around the same course (except in the final the water was replaced by a triple bar and the jumps were bigger) the previous day.

Williams has only been riding this horse since February and this was just their eighth show as a combination. They proved what a talent he is and thrilled Australian fans with a clear round.

The Australian Camp was suddenly very excited.

Alexander is the most adorned rider in the team, ranked in the top 10 riders in the world and a winner of multiple CSI5* Grand Prix. Australia was hoping that her skills would bring home another clear round, however, it was not to be.

Alexander and Cevo Itot du Chateau incurred an uncharacteristic eight faults.

“He got strong in the ring and he wouldn’t listen, he never does that,” said a disappointed Alexander.

The final rider for Australia was Patterson-Robinson and nine-year-old Niack De L’Abbaye. This pair had produced a clear round the previous day and Australia prayed he could do it again. It is a talented horse but it is young for this level and this time they incurred eight faults.

Australia finished with a total of 33.87 faults and seventh place. The German team, who started the night in the lead, produced three clear rounds and one four fault round (their discard score) to be the convincing winners of the gold medal on 17.80 penalties.

The silver medal went to a very deserving French team on 24.32 and a consistent performance from Belgium won them the bronze on 24.70 faults. A disappointed team USA dropped from 3rd to 10th.

Against the worlds greatest jumping horses and riders, Australia managed to achieve its best ever-result of seventh.

“It was a really big field and a really strong field,” said Brett Mace, Equestrian Australia High Performance Manager.

“We finished seventh at the 2008 Olympic Games but that was when some teams were eliminated on swabbing issues, also there were many more teams here so our performance was very much improved,” added Mace.

“It is a good sign that we are a bit disappointed with seventh place,” commented one Australian fan, “It is a sign of how close we are to winning a medal.”

AOC with Equestrian Australia