Eqn: Alexander hopes to jump her way into the history books

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2008
Eqn: Alexander hopes to jump her way into the history books

By Melissa Jenkins

HONG KONG, Aug 20 AAP - Edwina Alexander hopes her name is written into the history
books for becoming the first Australian show jumper to win an Olympic medal tomorrow night.

The 34-year-old Netherlands-based competitor could barely have asked for a better preparation
going into the final two rounds of the individual competition at Sha Tin Racecourse in
Hong Kong.

Her horse, Itot Du Chateau, only knocked down one rail over the first three qualifying
rounds and Alexander qualified in equal second place with three other riders.

And as of tomorrow, the scores of all 35 riders are wiped, ensuring the best performers
on the night take home the medals.

Alexander said she felt confident going into tomorrow's competition where after the
first round, the 35 riders will be cut to 20 for the final.

"I feel good. I just want to jump double clear and then let's see," she told reporters.

"He (Itot Du Chateau) is jumping fantastic and, I mean, I think everybody would love
to be on the podium, anyone that gets to the final, so I think it's everybody's dream.

"It would mean a lot. The sport in Australia it is starting to slowly, gradually build."

After her third qualifying round earlier in the week Alexander said she was feeling
more relaxed as the competition progressed and Itot Du Chateau was responding well to
the Olympic atmosphere.

"He is really relaxed in the ring there and he loves it in there," she said.

Alexander said competing against the best riders at competitions in Europe every few
weeks gave her extra confidence at the Games.

She has been in good form leading up to the Games and finished fourth at the 2006 World
Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.

Two of Alexander's teammates have also booked themselves places in tomorrow's final two rounds.

The oldest member of Australia's Beijing Olympics team, 60-year-old Laurie Lever, qualified
in equal 29th place.

The show jumping team's youngest member, Matt Williams, 23, snuck through in 36th place.

Williams will be hoping he can bounce back after a disappointing round in the team
final on Monday, when he knocked down four rails.

The fourth member of the Australian team, Peter McMahon, is out of the Games after
breaking his collarbone on Monday night.

He was thrown from his horse Genoa in the warm up area just moments before he was due
to take to the arena and was treated at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

AAP mj/tdw

KEYWORD: OLY08 EQN AUST PREVIEW (WITH PIX)

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