Australians Jumping into action in Lyon
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
The 2014 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final will boast a line-up which includes two of Australia’s leading riders, Edwina Tops-Alexander and Jamie Kermond.
Not since 2010 when Tops-Alexander was joined by Chris Chugg has Australia had two riders represented at the prestigious indoor event. It was at the 2010 Final that Chugg achieved Australia’s greatest ever result at a World Cup decider finishing in equal seventh.
There are 20 nations represented in the Final which will be the 36th staging of the event and for Sydney born Tops-Alexander it will be her seventh appearance at a World Cup Final. The two-time Olympian has earned her position amongst the field of 41 after finishing the Western European League in seventh position. She has performed steadily throughout the season notching up a top five placing at Mechelen, a top six finish at Stuttgart and seventh placings at Oslo and Verona.
The current Australian Show Jumping Champion, Jamie Kermond secured his first World Cup Final berth after dominating the 2013/14 Australian League season. With wins at Gatton and Wodonga and second place finishes in the Be the Influence Equestrian Grand Final, Sydney Royal and Shepparton, Kermond earned the title of leading rider before the start of the season ending round.
Kermond is expected to start the nine year old stallion Quite Cassini and will enter his Australian Show Jumping Champion mount Killeter Park Caracas in the 3*. Tops-Alexander also has two horses entered – Old Chap Time and Ego Van Orti.
The Longines World Cup Final will play out over four days with a rest day on day three. It will begin with 41 combinations with the top 30 to progress to the two round Grand Prix decider. Two preliminary competitions consisting of a speed competition followed by a first round and then a jump-off against the clock will determine the top 30 by awarding combinations points that will be transformed into penalties and carried through to the final day.
FEI TV will broadcast the final which is being held concurrently with the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final for Dressage in which Australia’s Mary Hanna will compete. Both Finals will be available to view on FEI TV.
More information on the event is available here: http://www.feiworldcupfinals-lyon.com/homepage
