Aussie Jumpers Star Across Globe

Australian jumping riders starred in three different countries across the weekend.

As usual Edwina Tops-Alexander led the charge with a stunning riding display at the prestigious Saut Hermès show at the Grand Palais in Paris.

Riding Lintea Tequila she won the Le Saut Hermès teams event riding alongside 22-year-old Irish superstar Bertram Allen. This was just one year after she won the Grand Prix Hermès at the same event.

“Both my horses jumped fantastic and I was very happy to have Tequila back in top shape,” said Tops-Alexander.

Jamie Kermond and Billy Raymont also competed at this show in preparation for next month’s FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Paris and both put in solid displays.

At New Zealand’s Horse of the Year Show, NSW rider Clint Beresford won the Silver Fern Stakes on Emmaville Jitterbug and led Australia to a convincing victory over the Kiwis in the Trans-Tasman Senior Test.

Equestrian Australia Jumping Committee Rider’s Representative and third placegetter in the Silver Fern Stakes Stuart Jenkins said;

“It was a fantastic trip for all of us. We won the teams event finishing on a perfect score of Zero. In the Silver Fern class the first four placings were made up of Aussie based horses,” he said.

In the Olympic Cup that was staged during the same event, Beresford finished second whilst Jenkins and Brooke Langbecker were equal third placed.

And in the USA, Rowan Willis and Blue Movie continued their white-hot form finishing second in the $US1 MILLION HITS Grand Prix in California.

Of the Australian performances on the world stage, Equestrian Australia’s Chair of the National Jumping Selection Panel Graeme Watts said;

“Edwina is the mainstay of our team but it’s good to see other riders coming up to the mark.”

“It’s Billy Raymont’s first trip out of the country on his horse Oaks Redwood and he’s done really well.”

Watts also commended the riders who did so well across the Tasman.

“Always good to beat the Kiwis in New Zealand and it was an opportunity for our younger and less experienced riders.”

“It’s very encouraging and positive to have the horses we have got at this level doing what they are doing,” said Watts.

Article courtesy of Equestrian Australia