Rio Olympic equestrian Edwina Tops-Alexander leaps into Global Champions Tour lead

RIO-BOUND show jumper Edwina Tops-Alexander has received a major confidence boost less than a month out from the Olympic Games.

Edwina Tops-Alexander on Lintea Tequil at a series event earlier this year.

RIO-BOUND show jumper Edwina Tops-Alexander has received a major confidence boost less than a month out from the Olympic Games by leaping into the lead of the Global Champions Tour in Europe.

Tops-Alexander finished second in the Cascais leg of the international series on her mare Lintea Tequila to show she will carry top form into the Rio Game.

With four rounds remaining in the rich series, Tops-Alexander now has a two point advantage over Germany’s Christian Ahlmann on the overall series point score.

Edwina Tops Alexander on Lintea Tequila in Miami earlier this year.

“I’m really happy to see that I’m number one for the moment, it’s getting shuffled up a lot,” said Tops-Alexander who won the opener of the series in Miami earlier this year and is a regular podium placegetter.

“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 was the first rider to win one million euros on the Global Champions tour with her wins back in 2011 and 2012.

At her debut Olympics in 2008 she finished 9th in the individual event and 7th in the team event and equal 20th in the individual and equal 10th in the team jumping competitions in London four years ago.