Left: Grand win - Edwina Alexander wins the H&M Grand Prix at Olympia riding Isovlas Itot du Chateau. 

ON the same day Australia beat England at cricket, Australia's leading show jumping rider, Edwina Alexander, won in the Old Dart.

She brought H&M day at Olympia, the London International Horse Show, to a victorious close, with a convincing win in the 1.60m $40,000 H&M Ivy Stakes Grand Prix.

Riding the 12-year-old Darco gelding Cevo Socrates, fifth out she set an early target in the 12-horse jump-off with a clear round in 32.44 seconds.

Seven more riders followed, but none could match Alexander.

Last to go, England's John Whitaker was looking dangerous on the big grey Dazzle but the partnership came unstuck before the third-last fence and rider and horse crashed through it. The consistent Dutch Olympian Marc Houtzager, riding Opium VS, finished second, ahead of flamboyant Italian rider Lucia Vizzini. Tina Fletcher was fourth, the best Brit riding Utopia lX.

The packed house erupted into cheering and foot-stamping when local hero Michael Whitaker produced a brilliantly judged ride against the clock on GIG Amai to become the first Briton for five years to win the $150,000 Rolex world cup qualifier earlier in the day.

Alexander finished 21st, riding her very young, eight-year-old mare Ciske van Overis, incurring just four penalties for one rail down.

This mare is certainly looking a likely prospect for the London Olympics in 2012.

Williams finishes second

MEANWHILE, Victoria's Matt Williams finished second in the $150,000 Grand Prix at the La Coruna International Five Star show in Spain on the weekend.

Riding Urleven Van de Helle, the Tonimbuk rider jumped a double-clear round to finish runner-up to French champion Michel Robert, riding Kellemoi de Pepita.

Eleven horses jumped clear in the first round of the 1.60m grand prix, with Robert and Williams the only riders to jump clear against the clock.

Williams thanked the Eschenbanch family, the owners of his horse, and his family in Australia.