Samantha improves 10 places

First-time Olympian Samantha Albert has improved 10 places going into today’s third and final stage of the equestrian events at the 2008 Beijing Games.



The British-based Albert, ranked 52 overall at the end of the dressage on Saturday, improved 10 places to 42 of the 60 riders remaining in the competition going into the show jumping stage.



She is not in medal contention. However, her horse ‘Before I do it’ won a lot of applause for a supreme effort over the 4,560-metre course and 29 obstacles.



Albert and ‘Before I do it’ had no jumping penalties but incurred 41.60 time penalties.



Overall Albert has total penalty points of 97.90.



Germans Hinrich Remeike, 50.20 penalty points and Ingrid Klimke, 50.70 are in the top two spots.



Megan Jones of Australia is in third spot on 51.00 points.



In cross-country, the course must be completed in a prescribed length of time and penalties are given for exceeding the time limit, refusals of the horse to jump at an obstacle and falls of horse or rider.