Australia's Edwina Alexander Wins Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes

CANNES, France – It was Back to Back Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes title for Australian Edwina Alexander as she once again partnered Cevo Itot de Chateau to victory, scoring a major highlight of her career.

Edwina had the appetite for the win early in the day and was ecstatic with the win.  “ I had a positive feeling this morning that everything was in readiness,” she commented. “I sensed that I would do well.”

Forty-eight starters challenged the course set by co-designer’s Serge Houtman and Luc Musette.

The classic flowing course of the first round was as big as it could get, with very wide oxers.

The toughest combination consisted of an oxer  (1.50/1.70m), two strides to an oxer (1.50/1.60m) and one stride coming out to a 1.55m vertical. This proved a challenge, although it did not have a related distance to it or away from.  This same combination was actually shortened and a fraction lowered in the second round.

Of the 18 through to the second round, 12 were on 4 faults, one on a time fault, who were  followed by the 5 clear rounds.  Those clear jumped in order of time taken in the first round starting with Clarissa Crotta (SUI) starting, followed by Ludger Beerbaum (GER), Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP), Edwina Alexander (AUS) and French rider Patrice Delaveau (FRA). 

As the event unfolded the major competition was carried out between those who jumped double clear; Clarissa, Ludger, Sergio and Edwina who sat in pole position as last to go. Patrice who rode Ornella Mail dropped 2 rails putting him out of contention for the jump-off.

Clarissa, riding Imperial West Side V Meerputhoeve led the charge in the jump-off. It was technical and high, and the test required accurate riding. She rolled the rail on top of the skinny planks as well as the front rail off the oxer, the first element of the double (45.82 seconds).

Ludger Beerbaum, who placed second in the last two Global Champions Tour events in Valencia and Hamburg, was hungry to gather as many ranking points as possible with a good result.  Riding Gotha FRH,  he did not take as many risks aiming for the clear, with success, in a time of 45.23 seconds.

Sergio, on the big strided stallion Action Breaker, was quick to the second last fence, however took a slower turn up to the last and was home free in a faster time of 42.37 seconds.

Itot may be small in stature but he is very, very quick. Edwina took all the risks and options available knowing that she would finish in third if she had just one down.  They had jumped clean on Thursday night and elected not to jump-off saving energy for the Grand Prix. It was good planning as they jumped clean and 3 seconds faster than Sergio to win as the crowd enthusiastically cheered the combination that they have taken into their hearts.

Celebrations were in earnest as Edwina joined the Cannes Jumping International organisers and sponsors for their 30^th Anniversary and her second win in Cannes. This year’s victory sits nicely with the 2010 win and the runner-up place in 2008 with Itot.

Edwina now leads the charge to be the first Global Champions Tour millionaire sitting with 992,399 Euro.  Meredith Michael-Beerbaum’s unfortunate no-show at this event due to a back problem hopes to be in Monaco.  She has 976,982 Euro in her Global Champions Tour total prize money bank, so we can expect a great event in Monaco (June 23-25).

Ludger has taken the leaders armband of the Global Champions Tour rankings with 129 point, ahead of Edwina on 125 points and Denis Lynch with 120 points.  Denis finished in 5^th place in the Grand Prix of Cannes with Lantinus 2 adding 32 points. Alvaro de Miranda Neto (BRA) who had led the Global Champions Rankings for the first three rounds of the series has been relegated to 4^th place with 117 points.

Edwina Alexander

Commenting on her win:

This is such a lucky show for me and the audience love Itot.  I had a positive feeling this morning which stayed with me all day. He jumped so well the first day and I saved him for tonight. Jan and I made a very good program for him this year as he is 15 years of age. He has been placed in every Grand prix this year with a 4^th in Bordeaux World Cup and 3^rd at Zurich World Cup, before having a break.

(asked about Itot over the winter and can she do Olympics and GCT?

He had a break over the winter and it did him the world of good. He is 15 years and of course we have to plan but he is fit and I plan to do the rest of the Global Champions Tour with him and my other mare Ciske van Overis.

GCT is becoming such a big part of everyone’s career, lifting the rest of our sport to a new level and I can do both GCT and the Olympics.

Ludger Beerbaum

Commenting on the class

Being early to go was not so difficult.  I saw Clarissa go so I knew no matter how fast I went Edwina and Itot were going to go faster.

Edwina was so quick and I knew she would be so fast.

Commenting on Gotha

The horse has jumped really well all weekend so I am very happy.  I had a bit of control issues last year now since Valencia where we ran second the horse has got better.

Commenting on the Global Champions Tour

My results at Valencia and Hamburg in second and now a third here in Cannes are consistent putting me in the lead of the GCT rankings.  If I had not had the one rail in Doha I would be further ahead.

Clarissa Crotta

On the event I love Cannes..it is my favourite event and it was great to celebrate my birthday here as they celebrated their 30^th Anniversary also. I am really happy with my horse here as he always fights for me.  I was first to go but having the planks down I maybe then went a bit too much forward for the combination.  The control was not there and it was my fault but we finished jumping the course very well.

Jan Tops – President of The Global Champions Tour

This is our fourth leg for the Global Champions Tour and the front riders are really prepared and sharp and pulling out all the stops to try to win overall.

Everything is very close and in a top-level sport that is fantastic to watch and the public here in Cannes really enjoyed it.

Cannes will stay on our calendar for the Global Champions Tour. The riders and sponsors love to be in Cannes.

Francois Bourey – President of Cannes Jumping International

on tonight and Cannes 30th anniversary:

You couldn’t imagine a better scenario tonight than what has happened.

It is a fantastic experience to carry on for 30 years and to imagine the same for another 25 years.

June will continue to be a very busy month for the Global Champions Tour with three major legs of the tour in Hamburg, Cannes and Monte Carlo. The circuit moves next to Monte Carlo, Monaco (June 23-25) with the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Monaco set to take place on Saturday 25^thJune, 2011.

Live television coverage of the Grand Prix will be broadcast on Eurosport. Live streaming of all the Global Champions Tour main events each day will be available on the dedicated website.  www.globalchampionstour.com.  The latest news and information can also be obtained online.  Join the Global Champions Tour on their designated Facebook and Twitter social media platforms.

Global Champions Tour Rankings – top 18 riders after 4^nd leg (Cannes)

1. Ludger Beerbaum (GER), 129 -  2. Edwina Alexander (AUS), 125 -   3. Denis Lynch (IRE), 120 -4. Alvaro De Miranda Neto (BRA), 117 - =5. Luciana Diniz (POR), 83 -  =5th Billy Twomey (IRE), 83 – 8. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE), 72 – 9. Kevin Staut (FRA), 70 – 10. Phillip Weishaupt (GER), 64 – 11. Sergio Alvarex Moya (ESP), 63 – 12. Pius Scwizer (SUI), 61 – 13. Lars Nieberg (GER), 58 – 14. Judy-Anne Melchior (BEL),55 – 15. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum,(GER), 52 – 16. Marcus Ehning (GER), 52 – 17. Sh Shakboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan (UAE), 49 – 18.Marco Kutscher (GER) 47.

The Global Champions Tour ranking is updated after each leg of the tour based on the scores derived from the rider’s performances. 

Full results at www.globalchampionstour.com