Two Australians to compete at Tops International Arena

For Edwina Tops-Alexander it’s the chance to vie for the Grand Prix while for young rider Jacob Wells, it’s the opportunity to go up against top class champs.

Edwina Tops-Alexander will be vying for the top prizemoney while competing at the Tops International Arena in The Netherlands. Picture: AFP

WHILE all horse-related events are on hold in Victoria it is exciting to get news of two Aussie riders competing at the world class Tops International Arena in The Netherlands.

The venue belongs to Jan Tops and wife Edwina Tops-Alexander and was built about five years ago.

Tops-Alexander will be riding the 12-year-old mare Identity Vitseroel in the CSI5* events and also Catenda in the CSI2* competitions.

Among other events Tops-Alexander will be competing in the Grand Prix and vying for €95,000 in prizemoney.

Also competing is young Victorian rider Jacob Wells who has been living and competing in Europe for the past 18 months.

A former state showjumping champion, Wells has worked hard to achieve his dreams. With an extremely supportive family, Wells began at pony club before moving on to EA competition and joining the state showjumping squads.

Training for many years under the guidance of Michelle Strapp, his one ambition was to ride overseas and represent his country at the highest level.

The first stepping stone happened when Strapp organised for Wells to spend a little time training with Tops-Alexander to gain some idea of life in a professional stable.

Tops-Alexander was so impressed by the young man from Modella that she offered him a full-time riding position working and training with her.

Wells has since been living the dream in Valkenswaard.

In Europe shows have been getting under way again only over the past month.

At this show Wells will compete with Diangella in the small tour 1.35m classes.

Meanwhile triple Olympian Matt Williams has a team of horses competing at CSI2* Leon, Mexico.

Williams rode Wisconsin PS to finish in the top 10 from very large fields of horses in the 1.40m classes and also rode Columbia in the six-year-old classes.

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