Edwina Looks to Extend Lead in Global Champions Tour

­­­

 

Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander will once again wear the leader’s armband heading into the fourth round of the Global Champions Tour (GCT) this weekend in Wiesbaden, Germany, with a strong 14 point lead.

 

After finishing in ninth position last weekend in Hamburg, Tops-Alexander was able to maintain her number one ranking on 96 points ahead of Marcus Ehning (GER) on 82 and Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) on 64. 

 

Consistency has been the key for Tops-Alexander, after winning the first round in Doha she has had two top ten finishes in rounds two and three in Valencia and Hamburg.

 

The first member to be named on the Australian Olympic Equestrian Team for Jumping, Tops-Alexander is looking to continue her solid form as she takes on both the richest jumping tour in the world as well as prepares for the 2012 Olympic Games that will get underway in 62 days.

 

This will be the first time the GCT is held in Wiesbaden with more than 40 athletes confirmed to start.

 

GCT President Jan Tops said: “It is very exciting to be holding the Global Champions Tour in a new venue in Wiesbaden. We are looking forward to a great four days of show jumping and I am sure spectators will enjoy some fantastic sport.”

 

The top riders will be ready to do battle in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix highlight on Saturday evening and a prize pot of €285,000. The season is already shaping up to be highly competitive and full of drama with leading riders vying for the top position on the GCT ranking board.

 

The fourth round of the GCT will be aired on Eurosport channel 511 on Foxtel and Austar on Monday 28 May and Wednesday 30 May – click here for more details. All the action will also be streamed on the GCT website http://www.globalchampionstour.com/

 

Global Champions Tour ranking after Hamburg

 

1 Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS)                    96 points

 

2 Marcus Ehning (GER)                                  82 points

 

3 Maikel van der Vleuten (NED)                     64 points

 

4 Denis Lynch (IRE)                                        61 points

4 Gerco Schroder (NED)                                 61 points

By: Lauren Ryan/Equestrian Australia