Australia shares podium in Longines Challenge Cup
Australia has finished equal second in the consolation final of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final, sharing the podium with Brazil and France after all three teams finished on 12 penalties.
11 teams lined up for the Longines Challenge Cup which offered 300,000 euros in prizemoney and was won outright by Qatar who finished with a total of nine penalties.
Australian captain Edwina Tops-Alexander riding Heidi du Ruisseau Z played a crucial role in the result producing two clear rounds. She was one of only four riders in the field to do so.
25 year old Jessica Brown competing in the biggest event of her young career partnered with horse Casco and had one rail in the first round before jumping clear in the second.
Normally Brown is competing at two star level and she took the step-up to five star in her stride.
“I’ve never jumped a whole course that big, it’s by far the biggest track I’ve ever seen both yesterday and today,” she said.
“I’m very proud and very excited. It’s boosted my confidence up a lot, especially after yesterday. I feel great and my horse felt super.
“Yesterday didn’t quite go to plan but it was our first big competition ever for myself and for my horse so I think it was all just a bit overwhelming. That round really did both of us a lot of good.”
Olympian Scott Keach riding Fedor accumulated eight jumping penalties over the two rounds while Jamie Kermond and Quite Cassini finished with nine penalties.
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