Hawkesbury show jumper Chris Chugg is one step away from making his Rio Olympics dream a reality, after being selected as one of the final identified combinations for the Australian team.
Equestrian Australia’s Jumping Selection Panel announced the identified combinations that will be considered for selection to the Australian Jumping Team for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games today.
It follows an earlier announcement by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) that team captain, Edwina Tops-Alexander and Olympian, Scott Keach have earned early selection to the Australian Olympic Team for Rio.
Chugg and horse Cera Cassiago were named in the final selections with the final team consisting of four horse and rider combinations.
In making their final nominations to the AOC, the JSP will consider performances and placings at three nominated European Nations Cups shows, but results will not automatically position one combination above another in terms of nomination.
Chugg, who has been competeing in Europe this year to secure his spot on the Olympic team, produced a solid performance against the world’s best at the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Goteborg at Easter, riding to a top 10 overall finish.
A spokesperson for Equestrian Australia said a clear round on the opening day set the tone for Chugg’s weekend and he continued to improve his tournament ranking with each outing.
“Leading into the final day Chugg was ranked 14th and he secured his top 10 finish with a strong final performance in which the eight year old Cristalline showed maturity beyond her years to finish the day with just five penalties,” the spokesperson said.
Should he be successful in making the team it will be his first games – he was the team’s reserve in Beijing 2008.