EQUESTRIAN: Two-time Olympian Edwina Tops-Alexander has won the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Grand Prix of Miami Beach, the first round of the 2016 Series.
The two-time Global Champions Tour Series Champion (2011,2012) outsmarted a 50 strong class which included eight of the world’s top 10 riders to make her mark on the 2016 season.
Riding the 13 year old mare Lintea Tequila, Tops-Alexander was one of six riders to produce two clear jumping rounds and progress to the jump off in which their time of 34.59 was the fastest.
Tops-Alexander had the advantage of being last to go in the jump-off and she rode a perfect and quick round crossing the line a full second ahead of the second placed rider McLain Ward (USA). Germany’s Christian Ahlmann finished third.
“The first round I had a great feeling, everything went really smooth,” said Tops-Alexander.
“I was in a good position being last to go and I had the chance to watch everyone - that’s always an advantage - and I just went as fast as I could.
"I’m obviously really happy. It’s been a while since I’ve won a Global Tour Grand Prix. [Lintea Tequila] just felt amazing,” she said.
Tops-Alexander now leads the 2016 LGCT rankings, as the Tour looks ahead to event two, the debut for Mexico City.
Equestrian Australia
