Tops-Alexander on top of Global Champions Tour rankings after podium finish in Portugal
Rio bound Australian show jumping rider Edwina Tops-Alexander has taken the overall series lead in the Longines Global Champions Tour after finishing second in the Cascais (Portugal) Grand Prix overnight.
The two-time Global Champions Tour series champion (2011, 2012) returned to the podium for a third time this season, adding to a string of recent good performances which includes finishing second in the Cannes Grand Prix and winning the season opener in Miami.
With four rounds remaining this season, Sydney born Tops-Alexander has a slender two point advantage over Germany’s Christian Ahlmann in the overall series stakes.
In the Cascais Grand Prix, Tops-Alexander and her mare Lintea Tequila produced three clear jumping rounds over the course of the class and were one of seven combinations to progress to a jump-off .
Their time in the jump-off was quick, but not quick enough, crossing the line in 50.08 seconds, a second behind the winner Piergiorgio Bucci (ITA) and Casallo Z, with the pair setting the time at 49.07 seconds.
“I’m really happy to see that I’m number one for the moment, it’s getting shuffled up a lot,” said Tops-Alexander.
“There’s still a long way to go. Christian’s not far behind me, it’s very, very close. But I’m just going to keep going and doing what I do - my horses are in great shape. Lintea felt amazing, she was floating on this ground.”
Tops-Alexander will captain Australia’s four member show jumping team at the Rio Olympic Games when show jumping competition begins at Deodoro, on 14 August, day 9 of the Games.
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