Albert eliminated on last day of event

BEIJING:

JAMAICA'S SAMANTHA Albert had a disappointing last day in the equestrian eventing competition in Hong Kong yesterday.

Albert, who was ranked a creditable 42 going into the third and final phase of the event, was let down by her horse who refused to jump at two obstacles. The Jamaican was eliminated from the competition and lost her ranking.

The final result, after the great performance from the horse in Monday's cross-country, was a hard pill to swallow for manager Anthony Pasmore and the rider.

"She first had a refusal at 5B, that's the combination fence, and her second was at fence nine and if you have two refusals, you are eliminated," Pasmore said.

Albert was one of nine eliminated riders. Four more were withdrawn.

Disappointed

Pasmore, who is also president of the Equestrian Federation of Jamaica, added: "Naturally, she was disappointed. You train so hard and work so hard - and especially after yesterday's brilliant cross-country."

Albert ended the opening phase of the individual eventing competition ranked at 52 in the dressage. She improved her ranking by 10 places to 42 following a magnificent round of jumping in the cross-country where she picked up penalty points for time but had a clean slate for jumping.

Germany's Henrich Romeike won the gold medal, silver went to American Gina Miles while Great Britain's Kristina Cook pocketed bronze.

With her Olympics completed, Albert will now set her sights on the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, United States, in 2010. The ageing 14-year-old mare, BEFORE I DO IT, will be replaced by a younger horse.

- Elton Tucker