Tops-Alexander earns a start at Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final

Edwina Tops-Alexander and Itot du Chateau

At the final qualifying leg of the 2012/2013 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping in ‘s-Hertogenbosch 
Photograph:FEI/Dirk Caremans

It is the European based Australian rider’s second podium finish of the season after she won the sixth leg of the series in Geneva last December.

With the best of the best vying for crucial qualifying points and a start at next month’s deciding event, a tense battle unfolded in the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch resulting in a nine-way jump off.

Edwina and her two time Olympic mount, the 17 year old Itot du Chateau, was one of five combinations to produce a clear round in the jump-off in which German competitor Daniel Will was the only rider to produce a faster time, securing victory with a time of 35.73 to Edwina’s 35.84.   

 “I had a great shot from fence one to two and three, to the next fence, the FEI fence it was a long 8, I almost thought I could do it on 7 but it was quite long. I got a good shot to the double and vertical - David did 6 there and I did 7 - but I was not quite good enough on the turn to the last - that's where I lost it and he won it," she said.

Currently ranked 5^th in the world, Edwina is the highest ranked female rider and will be a strong contender for the title when the world’s best battle it out for supremacy at next month’s Final.

She ends the qualifying series in eighth position ahead of the London Olympic gold medallist and world number two Steve Guerdat (SUI) and London Olympic silver medallist and world number three Gerco Schroder (NED).  

The winner of the 2012 Australian league of the FEI World Cup Jumping series, Alison Rowland, has elected not to contest the Final, choosing to focus instead on the outdoor season in a bid to make the Australian team for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Rowland has been competing in New Zealand and was a member of the Australian team which defeated New Zealand two-nil in the recent test series between the two nations.

The 2012/2013 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final will be held from 24-28 April in Gothenburg, Sweden.