Australians Well in the Hunt After Opening Day in Aachen
Australia has made a positive start to the FEI Jumping World Championships in Aachen, finishing the opening day in 20th place among 31 teams. With 145 combinations contesting the individual championship, the Australians also have three combinations sitting inside the top 90.
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Edwina Tops-Alexander and Fellow Castlefield lead the Australian charge in 37th place on 2.80 penalties. That puts Edwina in the leading third of a world-class field and only 2.80 penalties behind individual leader Julien Epaillard of France.
TomMcDermott and Oaks Ventriloquist are next for Australia, sitting 73rd on 5.30 penalties. Thomas is only 2.50 penalties behind Edwina, keeping both combinations well positioned as the championship continues.
Jamie Winning-Kermond and Tulara Wat Colblensky are in 88th place on 6.58 penalties, just 1.28 behind Tom. It was an encouraging World Championship start for the combination, and another strong result for an Australian-bred horse on the sport’s biggest stage.
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Rowan Willis and Handsome are currently 131st on 19.69 penalties. Their score became Australia’s discard result for the team standings, with the best three scores counting towards the team total.
Edwina, Tom and Jamie’s scores combined to give Australia a team total of 14.68 penalties. Germany leads on 3.48, but the standings around Australia are closely packed. Argentina is only 0.61 ahead in 19th place, while Austria is 2.54 ahead in 18th, showing how quickly the order could change over the coming rounds.
There is also plenty of Australian breeding to celebrate, with Oaks Ventriloquist and Tulara Wat Colblensky both carrying the AWHA suffix. To have two Australian-bred horses representing the country at a World Championships is a terrific achievement in itself.
The opening day has given Australia a solid platform. Edwina is well placed individually, Tom and Jamie remain within reach of plenty of combinations ahead of them, and the team has every opportunity to climb as the pressure builds in Aachen.
Full results to date:
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