Image: Edwina Tops-Alexander and Fellow Castlefield in the Team Qualifier. Image: Michelle Terlato Photography
Inside Paris | Presented by International Horse Breeders
The Australian Jumping Team, consisting of Thaisa Erwin on Hialita B (EMERALD), Hilary Scott on Milky Way (CLEARWAY) and Edwina Tops-Alexander on Fellow Castlefield (TIME FLAMENCO) have completed the Team Qualifier on Day 1 of Jumping in Paris, with a score of 36. Placing 15th, the team will not progress to the Team Final tomorrow night, and will now focus on the individual competition next Monday.
Hilary Scott and Oaks Milky Way. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
The Team Qualifying course was designed by Santiago Varela, who also built in Tokyo, and was ably assisted by the French Course Designer Gregory Bodo. Featuring a number of related and curved lines, the track proved quickly to be a technical ride, with 14 clears from 58 combinations.
The top 10 teams who will progress include Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, USA, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, France, Israel and Mexico. Surprisingly, the final will not feature the strong Swiss team, who finished 12th on 24 penalties.
Aussie girls
Olympic debutant Hilary Scott on Milky Way were the first of the Australians out on course today, finishing with a total of 16 penalties. Debutant Thaisa Erwin on board Hialita B were second on course to a total of 16 penalties, with experienced Edwina Tops-Alexander on Fellow Castlefield closing out for team Australia with just an early pole to finish on 4 penalties.
Thaisa Erwin and Hialita B. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
Re-cap on the action
You can read Martin Gostelow’s rider by rider commentary HERE.
The final is set to get underway on Friday 2 August from 10pm AEST.
View results: HERE.
