26 Aug 2014

Fraser claims show jumping gold

12:55 pm on 26 August 2014

New Zealand's Emily Fraser rode horse Exilio to victory in the show jumping at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, capping off two clear rounds with a 39.75-second round in the jump-off.

Fraser defeated silver medallist Martina Campi from Argentina and bronze medallist Australian Jake Hunter to take the victory after two rounds of jumping and then the final jump-off to determine the top three placings.

The 18-year-old from Feilding described her first round of the day as "the best ride of my life" but was joined by three other riders who had double clears.

The four horses and riders needed to jump again to determine the top three, knowing that one would come away without a medal.

Fraser was up first of the four riders in the jump-off and had the decision to ride for time or a no-fault round.

She says she had a strategy to go clear and post an all right time, so long as she left the rails up. Fraser succeeded in this goal and even posted the eventual fastest time.

Trainer Sally Clark says Fraser had a tough draw, being the first double clear in the opening two rounds and then being the first in the jump-off.

Fraser says the nerve-racking jump off was a case of riding for her life.

She exited the arena and watched each of the other three riders jump the course, with two knocking over a rail and the other posting a clear round but with a slower time.