Cevo Socrates, who competed at the top level and gave Edwina Tops-Alexander her first grand prix win, has died in retirement aged 31.

“Socrates, in life we are all given different gifts, but you gave us more than I ever thought possible,” said Edwina.

Edwina and the Belgian warmblood gelding, by Darco and out of a Chin Chin mare, made their international debut together in Belgium in 2008, at a CSI3* show.

They stepped up to five-star level and their first win came at the Bordeaux CSI5*-W in France, in February 2009. They went on to have wins and placings at major shows around Europe, including a victory at Olympia in 2010.

“Every jump, you gave more than your body should have been able to give, and still you kept going, grand prix after grand prix, bringing me victories I never imagined I would achieve,” said Edwina.

“My very first grand prix win was with you, when I was riding with a broken foot from a previous fall. Even when I couldn’t ride you the way I wanted or needed to, you stepped in, took over the reins, and gave everything you had. That was who you were.”

Edwina said Socrates underwent colic surgeries but continued to have “an unmistakable positive spirit”.

“Through that strength, you gave all of us who knew you something far greater than success – you gave us belief, gratitude and proof that anything is possible,” she said.

“You were never about easy talent – you were about intelligence, heart and courage. Winning the Vigo World Cup, the Zurich grand prix and so many other moments, you always gave absolutely everything. After all you overcame, you showed us what true resilience and partnership really mean. That is your greatest legacy.”

Socrates retired from competition in 2013 and enjoyed his retirement at Stal Tops, in the Netherlands.

“You are one of my heart horses, and you will always remain a part of my soul,” said Edwina.

“Thank you, ‘So’, for the life you gave me, Jan, Stal Tops and for memories that will be cherished for ever.”

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Australia’s two remaining showjumpers at the Tokyo Olympics will be able to compete as individuals, despite their team-mate Jamie Kermond being ruled out of the Games.

Jamie has been provisionally suspended by Equestrian Australia under the Australian national anti-doping policy after he tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine. Jamie had been due to make his Olympic debut with Oaks Constellation.

Rowan Willis had decided not to travel to the Games with Blue Movie as the Australian alternate so the country’s team fell apart with the loss of Jamie as there were only two riders left. It was unclear whether Edwina Tops-Alexander and Katie Laurie would be allowed to compete as individuals, but the Australian Olympic Committee has now been informed that Edwina and Katie can compete in the individual competition.

Australian chef de mission Ian Chesterman said: “We are thrilled with the outcome for our remaining two jumping athletes, who have been anxiously awaiting confirmation regarding their participation at the Games.

“Edwina and Katie have both worked extremely hard to earn their place on the Australian team and we are delighted they will get the opportunity to realise their Olympic aspirations in the arena at Tokyo.”

Edwina will ride Identity Vitseroel and will become the first Australian showjumper to ride at four Games. She said: “I’m very happy about the outcome for myself and Katie Laurie to be able compete as individuals in Tokyo. I’m proud and I look forward to representing Australia. I will absolutely give it my utmost best.”

Olympic debutante Katie, who will ride Casebrooke Lomond, commented: “Words cannot describe the feeling of hearing that Edwina and I could both go as individuals. It’s been a rollercoaster but we are ready and so excited to get to Tokyo.”

Edwina and Katie will arrive in Tokyo on Wednesday, 28 July as scheduled. The Olympic individual showjumping competition starts on Tuesday, 3 August.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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The Australian Olympic showjumping team heading to the Tokyo Games has been revealed as a three-time Olympian is called up for the fourth time, a rider makes their Olympic debut, and a former New Zealand rider flies the Australian flag.

The Australian showjumping team consists of:

• Edwina Tops-Alexander and her own Identity Vitseroel
• Katie Laurie and Casebrooke Lomond, owned by Katie, her husband Jackson and Sheena Ross
• Jamie Kermond and Yandoo Oaks Constellation, owned by Kerrie Winning

The alternate is:

• Rowan Willis and Blue Movie, owned by Rowan, David and Elsa Willis, Renee Willis, Michael and Wendy Jackson and Warren Coventry

Edwina, 47, will be making her fourth Olympic appearance, having competed at Rio 2016, London 2012 and Beijing 2008. She has owned the 13-year-old mare Identity Vitseroel since 2019, and the pair enjoyed a top-10 placing in the grand prix at the Valkenswaard leg of the Global Champions Tour in early June, so will be heading to the Olympics in good form.

Edwina said she is “honoured” and “privileged” to have been chosen to represent Australia again, adding it’s a team that has never ridden together before.

“Although it will be a slightly different Olympics, it’s the one everyone has been waiting for,” she said. “It’s already an achievement in itself to be selected, and it’s a chance to proudly represent Australia, which doesn’t happen that often for the showjumping team.

“It means a lot to me to represent my country in the best possible way and I want to wish everyone else the best of luck.”

British-born Katie Laurie, 35, is stepping up for her second Olympic appearance – but her first for Australia. The daughter of Australian Olympic rider Jeff McVean and Nations Cup team rider Vicki represented New Zealand at the Beijing Games in 2008. In 2017 Katie and her husband Jackson moved to Australia, and in 2019 she began competing for the country.

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Katie, who is now based in Okotoks, Canada, with Jackson, will ride Casebrooke Lomond, a 13-year-old stallion, whom she has had since he was three.

Making his Olympic debut is 36-year-old Jamie Kermond, who was part of Australia’s team at the 2018 Tryon World Equestrian Games with 15-year-old gelding Yandoo Oaks Constellation. The team took sixth place and thereby secured Australia’s Olympic qualification.

Alternate rider Rowan Willis will travel to Tokyo with the Olympic showjumping team with the 15-year-old mare Blue Movie. The pair joined Jamie on the WEG squad in Tryon in 2018, where Rowan took 12th individually.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Scott Brash made history this weekend as he recorded his 13th Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) grand prix win.

Scott rode Hello Jefferson to victory in the LGCT grand prix in Stockholm, Sweden, yesterday (20 June), as the pair beat Edwina Tops-Alexander and Fellow Castlefield in a “nail-biting climax”. American rider Spencer Smith took his first LGCT podium in third on Quibelle.

An LGCT spokesman said it was an “exceptional” evening in front of enthusiastic Swedish fans as the world‘s best riders and horses “went into combat” in the Olympic stadium, which hosted the 1912 Games. The leg was the fifth in the 2021 series.

Spencer Smith was the pathfinder in the jump-off of four riders. While he set the pace, he collected four faults by taking down the back rail in the double. Taking a stride out to the last, he crossed the finish line in 39.58 seconds. Next to go Carlos Lopez and CG Arrayan took some risks with a tight turn but this did not pay off, as the pair picked up eight faults in a time of 40.29 seconds.

Penultimate combination Scott and Jefferson kept the round “smooth and tight” as they notched up the first double clear of the class in 39.81 seconds. Last to go Edwina lost “crucial milliseconds” on her new ride in the second half of the round and the pair settled for a clear in 40.87.

The win, Scott’s first of the 2021 series, means he has now qualified for the LGCT super grand prix at the Prague Playoffs in November, and he now sits in second place on the LGCT rankings, behind Swedish rider Peder Fredericson.

Scott, who is longlisted for the British Tokyo showjumping team with Hello Jefferson, said he was delighted with the win and described Lady Kirkham and Laddy Harris’ 12-year-old gelding as “amazing”.

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“He has so much quality and I finally feel our partnership coming through; I feel there is no grand prix this horse can’t win,” he said. “We just missed out in Madrid and I was thinking it was going to be another unlucky year, but it’s great to be part of the exciting super grand prix.”

“It was an amazing crowd, especially when the Swedish guys ride they really get behind them and it’s great to feel that bit of atmosphere again at the shows, it brings the best out in the competitors.”

The spokesman said that having just missed out on the win in Madrid, (21-23 May) it was a “fairytale ending” for Scott and Hello Jefferson. The tour continues this week in Paris (25-27 June).

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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The top-flight showjumper chats to Jennifer Donald about family values, finding her match in the great ‘Itot’ and dealing with setbacks

“I always say that every jar has a lid — so many great partnerships come from horses finding the right rider,” says Edwina Tops-Alexander, who has forged a stellar career in the saddle but is perhaps still best known for her amazing connection with the great Cevo Itot Du Château.

Many people had written off the bouncy chestnut as being too small at barely 15.2hh for a five-star horse, but he and Edwina crafted one of the sport’s greatest pairings during a golden era in which success seemed effortless.

“I found my match in Itot, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum in Shutterfly and Eric Lamaze in Hickstead,” she says. “But you never know if those horses would have had those careers if they’d been with other riders.”

Since Itot’s retirement in 2014 at the age of 18, the 46-year-old Australian, now mother to two-year-old Chloe and married to Dutch Olympic gold medallist and Global Champions founder Jan Tops, has continued to reign as one of the world’s leading riders.

As an Australian, a female and a mother, she ticks a few minority boxes in the world of top-flight showjumping, but “loves a challenge” and, since moving to Europe in 1998, has broken the mould to claim more than 25 five-star grands prix and World Cups. She is a veteran of three Olympic Games, became the first Australian to reach a World Equestrian Games (WEG) final in 2006, she was a dual winner of the Global Champions Tour series in 2011 and 2012 and hit a rich patch of form at the end of 2018, concluding in victory in the inaugural super grand prix in Prague, one of the world’s toughest competitions.

But over the past year Edwina has been thrown a catalogue of setbacks, including injuries to her top horses Bacardi VDL and California, family illness, a brush with skin cancer and an inevitable dip in form — surprisingly, until last weekend when she landed a class in Spain, Edwina had gone 14 months without claiming a victory.

“When you’re winning, everything seems so easy — then you hit a wall and you have to regroup, work even harder, keep fighting and keep believing,” reflects Edwina. “We each have our turns and at the moment Ben Maher and Martin Fuchs are on a roll — every time they get on a horse, the magic happens.

“But looking forward and staying positive is the most important thing; 2019 wasn’t my best year but 2020 could be interesting.”

Reading H&H

Positivity exudes from the warm and gracious Edwina as we sit down to chat during Olympia, where her second-place finish in the grand prix signalled a long overdue change in fortunes.

It seems fitting she is featuring in the magazine that helped steer her on this epic journey from her native Australia 22 years ago.

“Nowadays, you can follow the sport from anywhere in the world, but back then the only way I could keep up with it was by getting Horse & Hound every few months,” says Edwina, who grew up outside Sydney as the youngest of four children.

She only learnt to ride having discovered “an amazing connection” on a neighbour’s horses, but her unhorsey parents stepped in to support her through the Pony Club, young riders and beyond.

“Reading Horse & Hound made me realise there was a different level to showjumping outside Australia and I knew it wasn’t the place to be if I wanted to be good at it. So I decided to move to Europe for six months to see.”

Edwina planned and saved for a year and, aged 24, departed her homeland with a horse called Mr Dundee. She joined the yard of some friends in the Netherlands before settling for two years under the tutelage of Belgian rider Ludo Philippaerts.

“I bought a share of a very green nine-year-old, Jozita, and had my first taste of ‘real sport’ at La Baule where we finished third in the five-star grand prix,” recalls Edwina. “I thought: ‘Maybe I am good enough to do this,’ and it gave me real motivation.”

Fate intervened when she started doing business with her future husband, Jan Tops.

“I’d first met him soon after I moved to Europe, but it wasn’t until a few years later when I had some Australian clients and was buying and selling horses that I took them to Jan’s,” she explains. “It just evolved from there.”

Edwina’s competitive career, however, then took a back seat for a while.

“I sold the horses I had while I was working with Jan, so I wasn’t riding very much,” she explains. “The business side of things is still something I enjoy — making sure someone has the right horse and that it goes well with them.”

But in 2004, she crossed paths with a mare who flicked a switch in Edwina.

“I invested in Pialotta and that’s when my career went stratospheric,” she says, her eyes lighting up with the memories. “It wasn’t intentional — I was pretty content — and I knew I couldn’t get to the top without the right horse, but equally I remained passionate and open-minded. Together we won my first five star, went to WEG the year after and everything snowballed. Then along came Cevo Itot Du Château and my life changed forever.

“I followed Itot and loved him until we were eventually able to buy him ahead of the 2008 Olympics — I never actually tried him,” she reveals. “But I’ll never forget the moment I got on that horse at home — I jumped a course and it felt like I knew him inside out. I had the exact same feeling with California and Lintea Tequila, and I have a great feeling now with my new horses Identity Vitseroel [her Olympia hero] and Catenda. They’re all very different, but I think you have to feel that connection when you first get on.”

A crazy life

With an exciting battalion of horses for 2020, including these new rides and the expected return of her potential Olympic contenders Bacardi and California, Tokyo is a clear target, alongside commitments to her new Global Champions League team, Valkenswaard United.

Home for Edwina and Jan, who married in 2011, is Monaco. But with her horses stabled at the equine epicentre of Valkenswaard in the Netherlands, a breeding enterprise in France, Jan’s worldwide business commitments and a different five-star show to compete at nearly every weekend, this is a family who runs a tight ship. As any parent knows, toddlers require a military-scale operation just to exit the house, so how on earth does she manage it all?

“Most of the time it works, but it is a juggling act!” she laughs. “We are lucky to have very good people — it’s very well managed — but there are often suitcases heading in all directions and getting Chloe’s things organised is a mission in itself.

“It’s a crazy life, but she doesn’t know any different and luckily she loves to get on a plane.”

Embarking on motherhood later in life has allowed Edwina to enjoy the career she’s had.

“Everything is about timing and I was really lucky to have Chloe when I did,” she shares, elaborating too on her 18-year relationship with Jan, who also acts as her trainer; together they’ve been a real driving force in the sport.

“We’re on the same page — I’m so fortunate because he’s a real horseman and understands everything I’m doing,” says Edwina. “I think we’ve seen just one movie together in the whole time we’ve been in a relationship! However, we can switch off from horses a bit more when we’re in Monaco — it’s all about balance.

“It’s exciting how the sport has evolved over the past 10 to 15 years — the Global Tour has pushed showjumping to a different level. People are always afraid of change, but it’s important to move with the times. But if I could change one thing about the sport, it would be to have an off season — even just a month’s break would be good for everyone.”

‘I’d like to do two more Olympics’

As our chat draws to a close, the ever-inquisitive Chloe totters in to say hello, full of excitement at the prospect of some cherished mother-daughter time before the show ring beckons once more.

With so much going on, I’m nevertheless surprised to hear Edwina say she already sees an end point to her jumping career.

“I definitely won’t be riding competitively in 10 years’ time — I don’t want to be that age and running around at a show every week. Chloe will be older and I want to give her my time and to enjoy other things in life,” she explains.

“I’d like to do two more Olympics then see where I am. There’s so much more you can do in the sport than riding — maybe I’ll own a few horses and keep in touch with the breeding.

“I’ve enjoyed some amazing moments in my career — Prague was incredible, then to win in Valkenswaard against the likes of Hickstead and Shutterfly was unbelievable.

“A gold medal would be amazing and is certainly on the bucket list, but if I stopped without one I wouldn’t have any regrets. I’m content with everything I’ve achieved.”

Ref Horse & Hound; 6 February 2020

Australian showjumper Edwina Tops-Alexander can boast an impressive list of grand prix successes on her CV, but what she revealed to Horse & Hound in her interview in this week’s magazine (out Thursday 6 February) is her ability to “know” when a big win is coming her way.

Ahead of the Miami leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour in 2018, her top horse California had been having some physio work for a back problem so Edwina had told everyone she would just be jumping in the smaller classes, rather than aiming the mare for the feature grand prix.

“But that day she felt amazing,” recalls Edwina. “Everyone said just go by your feeling with her and I qualified for the grand prix.

“I was so sure I was going to win that in my head I was running through how I would explain it in the press conference afterwards, because they’d all thought I wasn’t jumping in the class. Then I said to myself, ‘Hang on, you haven’t even jumped yet!’ But that was how convinced I was that I would win — and I did.”

Edwina had a similar inkling when she woke up on the morning of the World Cup qualifier at Olympia in 2008 when she was partnered with the great Cevo Itot Du Chateau.

“I was second last to go in the first round and there had been no clears until John Whitaker [riding Casino] right before me managed it and I thought ‘Uh-oh, I’m going to have to jump-off now — even though I hadn’t even gone in the ring yet,” says Edwina, who did indeed go in to jump the only other clear in the class.

Continued below…

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Edwina says: “In the jump-off, John went unbelievably fast but had the last fence down. I thought if I go slow and have one down I’m not going to win, but if I go fast I’m going to risk having one down — but then I thought, well I’m going to win anyway so I’m just going to jump round and I won!”

Explaining these feelings, Edwina says: “A lot of the sport has to do with your mind and your beliefs and the energy you have with your horses. But yes, I’ve had a few moments like that in my career.”

Don’t miss the full interview with Edwina in 6 February issue of Horse & Hound magazine. The exclusive interview will be available for H&H Plus members to read in full online on Saturday 8 February.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Edwina Tops-Alexander has won the inaugural Super Grand Prix on the Longines Global Champions Tour. The Australian rider fended off 15 of the world’s top riders, including German legend Ludger Beerbaum, to take top honours on Saturday night (15 December) riding the great mare California.

“It is a huge honour and one of the most prestigious grands prix I have ever won,” said Edwina.

This brand new competition in the O2 Arena at the new GC Playoffs in Prague brought the 2018 LGCT championship season to a glittering conclusion. The sixteen riders, who had qualified from each of the grands prix in the series, battled it out over two jaw-dropping tracks set by Uliano Vezzani. But it was Edwina Tops-Alexander who collected the silverware ahead of Ludger Beerbaum of Germany on Casello in the runner-up spot, with Dutchman Frank Schuttert third riding Chianti’s Champion. All three riders on the podium finished with four faults after two rounds of jumping, with less than half a second separating the top two competitors.

“After I had the fence down, I thought I have just got to go for it,” said Edwina, who collected a whopping €313,333 (£280,000) top prize.

The Australian rider won the Longines Masters of Paris at the start of this month with California, then followed up with victory in the World Cup of La Coruna last week on new ride Vinchester before coming to Prague to claim a festive hat-trick.

“I’ve had the most amazing three weeks of my life and to finish by winning the LGCT Super Grand Prix is incredible,” she said.

Runner-up Ludger Beerbaum added: “It was quite emotional, even for an old guy like me. To me this event is a milestone and I enjoyed being part of it.”

Two British riders, Scott Brash and Ben Maher, had qualified for this €1.25million competition and Ben took fifth with a second round clear on Explosion W after picking up eight faults in round one.

“Today wasn’t our day,” said Ben, who finished just ahead of Scott in seventh. “It’s easy to forget Explosion W is only nine and has limited experience indoors but I’m happy he grew so quickly in the second round. I can’t be disappointed when he’s had such an amazing year.”

Only Edwina and Harrie Smolders had jumped clear in round one but the world number one crashed out when his ride Zinius took a strong dislike to the Rolls Royce vertical — for the second time this week — and the Dutchman once again hit the deck for elimination.

There was another hard luck story for Irishman Shane Breen, who had been vying for top honours in third on Ipswich Van De Wolfsakker after round one but elected to retire after the faults began accumulating in round two.

Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 20 December, for the full report from this brand new event in the equestrian calendar.

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Rolf-Goran Bengtsson produced a fairytale finish to the 2016 Longines Global Champions Tour in Doha, Qatar. On Saturday evening (5 November) in front of a buzzing crowd, the Swede took a resounding victory in the final grand prix of the season and was crowned champion of champions for 2016 by heading the overall points table.

“It was an evening you can dream of, but for it to come true you never think it is possible,” said Rolf, who secured the lion’s share of a one million euro bonus fund as title-holder, as well as nearly 150,000 euro for his grand prix win.

His closest rival in the overall standings, Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia, finished in the runner-up spot after clocking a surprise eight faults in the opening round of the grand prix, with Germay’s Christian Ahlmann finishing third on the podium.

“I made it easy for you!” said Edwina.

With this coveted accolade in the bag, Rolf and the imposing 17-year-old Caretino stallion Casall ASK went on to jump a double clear before outsmarting six riders in a tactical jump-off to clinch grand prix victory from final draw.

“Casall still loves the job – he’s so competitive in every ring,” said Rolf. “He makes everything possible.”

German riders Daniel Deusser (First Class Van Eeckelghem) and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Fibonacci) took second and third respectively in this final grand prix of the 2016 season.

We bid farewell to a strong British and Irish contingent in round one, none of whom finished in the top 18. Michael Whitaker felt Cassionato simply wasn’t firing in the Qatar heat and retired. John Whitaker, who enjoyed an otherwise hugely successful show, did well to stay in the saddle after meeting the final vertical on no stride at all with his grand prix ride Ornellaia and Scott Brash just missed the cut for round two, finishing on four faults with Hello M’Lady. Ireland’s Cian O’Connor (Good Luck), Denis Lynch (Campino 344) and Bertram Allen (Hector Van D’Abdijhoeve) all came away with a rail or two down.

Don’t miss the full report from the Longines Global Champions Tour in Doha in next week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 10 November.

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Britain will have one rider at the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Gothenburg in March after Laura Renwick secured her spot with a strong performance in the final qualifier tonight (6 February) in Bordeaux, France.

Laura and Bintang II (pictured top) were among 17 pairs who jumped clear in the first round over Uliano Vezzani’s track. They were second in for the jump-off and put in a tight clear to stop the clock in 42.35 seconds, which eventually left them sixth.

“To do a double clear in this class is fantastic, although it’s a shame there were so many clears — my horse is really careful and scopey, but he’s not the fastest,” said Laura.

Nonetheless, the points she gained for sixth were valuable and 13th place in the Western European League rankings guarantees Laura a spot at the Gothenburg showdown.

Michael Whitaker and Scott Brash were also within reach of qualification going into this class, but neither of them were able to add significantly to their points tally and they finished up out of the qualification zone.

Michael went clear in the first round on his Olympia grand prix winner Viking, but had down both parts of the double at fence nine in the jump-off. Scott and Hello Forever hit the yellow planks at fence seven in the first round.

For Ireland, Denis Lynch started the night in a strong position and he took fifth place in the qualifier with All Star 5 to secure his place at the World Cup final. Bertram Allen — third in last year’s final — started the night well down the rankings, so he would have needed a top placing tonight to shoot up the list and qualify. But when Molly Malone V knocked the first part of the treble at six in the first round, it was certain he would not be able to contest the final.

The class was won by the home side’s Kevin Staut (Haras Des Coudrettes’ Reveur De Hurtebise HDC), who was the only person to record a sub 40-second clear in the jump-off.

“Last season wasn’t really good, so I’m very happy to start 2016 with this win, especially in France with all my team here and the owners who have always been behind me,” he said.

Simon Delestre made it a one-two for France by taking the runner-up spot on Qlassic Bois Margot, while Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander squeaked into the final by lifting third place on Caretina De Joter.

“My plan was to keep everything fast and smooth,” said Edwina. “My horse spends a lot of time in the air so that’s where we lost time, but I’m very happy with her.”

Full report from Bordeaux in Horse & Hound next week (11 February).

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Edwina Tops-Alexander retired her great showjumper Cevo Itot Du Chateau in an emotional ceremony in Paris on Sunday, 5 July.

“He always gave me the world of confidence,” said Edwina, who competed the 18-year-old French-bred gelding at two Olympic Games.

“But everything comes to an end and you don’t want to put him in a position where he’s not going to be at his best.

“I wanted him to finish on a good note.“

We take a look back at this wonderful little French-bred gelding’s illustrious career in pictures.

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Flying showjumping finishes in Chantilly [PICS]

It was fast and furious in the Airbus Group Masters 1.50m class at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Chantilly. A mammoth 22 riders reached the jump-off and it resulted in a high-octane racing finish — not surprising when there was a €15,000 top prize at stake.

Jockeys triumph in Barbury Horse Trials challenge [PICS]

Move over eventers — the jockeys are winning on your home turf. A team of four National Hunt stars were victorious at Barbury International Horse Trials on Saturday (5 July) in the Champions Challenge.

Hickstead Derby drama and delights [PICS]

The Equestrian.com Derby Meeting at Hickstead was as dramatic as they come, with thrills and spills galore in Sunday’s major class, the Equestrian.com Derby. But there was a lot more action to enjoy across the 4 days and here are some of the highlights capture by our dedicated photographers.

Hickstead Derby Bank: how NOT to do it

Over the years horses have jumped straight off the top, refused to descend or even gone down backwards. So here are a selection of less-than-copybook attempts from the Horse & Hound picture archives.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Cevo Itot Du Chateau, the little chestnut gelding ridden to phenomenal success by showjumper Edwina Tops-Alexander, is to be retired at the age of 18.

“Itot is a once-in-a-lifetime horse and I feel privileged to have ridden and competed with him all these years,” said Edwina. “We will have a special ceremony at the Global Champions Tour event in Paris on Sunday 6 July, after the Gucci Gold Cup, for the public to say goodbye to Itot.”

The Australian rider first partnered the French-bred son of Le Tot De Semilly in 2007 and the elegant pair have thrilled the crowds ever since.

“Toti” was well known for pinging round the biggest tracks with his trademark big ears permanently pricked forward. It seemed there was no obstacle too big for this pint-sized wonder, who stood barely 15.1hh.

“From day one I always had a very positive feeling with Itot, but I never would have believed we would have so much success together,” said Edwina. “He is a rare animal with amazing qualities of stamina and agility, and a horse who never gives up.

“He has all the ingredients of a special athlete. I have been extremely fortunate to have a horse like that, and the right training and management from Jan [Tops, Edwina’s husband] gave us the opportunities to go so far.”

However, the story could have been very different because, as a 3-year-old, Itot was seriously injured after jumping out of his field in France and being hit by a car. 

Jan Tops said: “There are only a very few times in a career in equestrian sport that you will see a horse like Itot. Two of the most successful years of his life were when he was 15 and 16 years old.”

Cevo Itot Du Chateau’s hall of fame:

• Helped Edwina win the final of the Global Champions Tour in 2011 and 2012
• Headed World Cup qualifiers in Geneva, 2012, and Olympia, 2008
• Accumulated more than €3 million in prize-money
• Won 5* grands prix all over the world including Doha, 2012, Valkenswaard, 2009, and Brussels, 2008
• Represented Australia at two Olympic Games (2012 and 2008) and the World Championships in 2010
• Won the GCTs in Chantilly, France, in 2011, and Cannes in 2010 and 2011

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Australian showjumper Edwina Tops-Alexander has been crowned the overall winner of the 2012 Global Champions Tour (GCT) for the second year running.

In the final grand prix of the 12-leg series in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night, both she and her nearest rival, Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, faulted in round one. This left them on equal points, but Edwina was awarded the €294,500 first prize courtesy of her higher best placing of the season — victory in the opening grand prix in Doha.

“I was quite nervous today but I was looking forward to jumping,” said Edwina, who paid tribute to her outstanding 16-year-old Cevo Itot Du Chateau. “He won the rankings for me — he was an amazing horse last year and even better this year.”

Britain’s Michael Whitaker jumped up the overall rankings to a podium third — winning nearly €125,000 — after taking fourth in Saturday’s €400,000 Gucci grand prix of Abu Dhabi on nine-year-old Antello Z.

“This is the biggest he’s ever jumped — I didn’t expect to be clear in the second round,” said Michael, who rode a double clear, adding just one time-fault in round one.

The delighted winner of the final grand prix of the 2012 season was Ukraine’s Katharina Offel riding Fidji Island.

Read the full report from the GCT final in this week’s Horse & Hound (29 November)

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Guy Williams has been reunited with his former top ride Titus who was sold in December.

Guy lost the ride on Titus in the round of horse trading before the closing date for Olympic registrations.

The horse was bought for Australian rider Edwina Tops-Alexander to compete.

But Guy has the ride back and will compete Titus at Bourg-en-Bresse in France this weekend.

“I can’t say much at the moment,” said Guy. “Titus arrived at the show yesterday and is back with me again.”

Edwina is currently recovering from a fall at Wiesbaden at the weekend.

However Titus’ change of nationality means he and Guy are not in contention for Team GB at the Olympics.

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Edwina Tops-Alexander is recovering after a fall from her horse Cevo Socrates in the 1.45m CSI***** class on Saturday (26 May) at Wiesbaden in Germany.

In was initially thought that the Australian showjumper had broken her wrist but a hospital check-up showed just a mild concussion and she was kept in hospital overnight.

It meant that Edwina, who is the current Global Champions Tour ranking leader could not ride in Wiesbaden’s GCT grand prix on Saturday.

“She’s fine, but is suffering from minor concussion,” said her husband, GCT boss Jan Tops.

On her website, Edwina said she hoped to be back in the saddle soon. “I am an Aussie, I never give up,” she added.

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A stellar field of international riders will be attending Olympia, which starts today (13 December) and runs until 19 December.

Sixteen nations are represented and the British challenge includes William Funnell, Ben Maher, John and Michael Whitaker and Guy Williams.

Seven of the world’s top 10 will also be in action including Rolf-Goran Bengtsson of Sweden, Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander and France’s Kevin Staut.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (8 December 2011)

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France’s Roger-Yves Bost wowed the crowds on Saturday to earn victory in the concluding grand prix of the 2011 Global Champions Tour (GCT) in Abu Dhabi, but the overall title – and a cheque for 300,000 euros – went to Australian showjumper Edwina Tops-Alexander.

Coming into the final, Edwina stood top of the overall leader board with only Ludger Beerbaum close enough on points to be able to snatch the title away from her.

However, when the German rider crashed through the treble combination on the 12-year-old stallion Chaman, the championship was Edwina’s, despite an uncharacteristic eight faults with her game selle Francais gelding Cevo Itot Du Chateau.

“The [leader’s] armband has been tossed around a lot this season but my horse has been very consistent and that’s what counts,” said Edwina, who won two rounds in Cannes and Chantilly. “There was quite a wait for the final after Rio, my horse had a break and perhaps was too fresh today – I would have liked to end with a better result but I’m already looking forward to next season.”

Ludger finished in the runner-up spot with Brazil’s Alvaro De Miranda in third overall. Ireland’s Denis Lynch and Billy Twomey both enjoyed success earlier in the season, settling for sixth and 12th respectively.

Earlier in the day, Britain’s Ben Maher came third in the 1.45m small tour with Tackeray while Michael Whitaker impressed the previous evening with an emphatic five-star win on new ride Mr Darcy.

Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound (out 1 December) for full report and pictures.

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Australia has revealed the showjumping team who will be carrying Aussie hopes at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Leading the squad is Edwina Alexander with her 15.2hh 14-year-old gelding Itot Du Chateau. Edwina Alexander is currently 10th in the Rolex World Rankings and won at Cannes CSI4* and Vigo CSI-W earlier this season. Edwina finished fourth at the 2006 World Equestrian Games and will be hoping for individual glory this time.

Joining her are Chris Chugg and Vivant, who have enjoyed a good run of form on the European circuit including seventh at the 2010 World Cup final. This combination was also part of the second placed Nation Cup team at Lummen and Linz.

Holland-based James Patterson-Robinson and Niack De L’Abbaye take the third slot. James competed in the Athens Olympics as an individual and the pair were recently third in the 1.60m CSI 5* in San Patrigno.

The final combination is Matt Williams, who is based with Edwina Alexander in Holland. He will be riding Urleven Van De Helle.

Austrailian showjumping team

• Edwina Alexander and Itot Du Chateau
• Chris Chugg and Vivant
• James Patterson-Robinson and Niack De L’Abbaye
• Matt Williams and Urleven Van De Helle
• Read the latest World Equestrian Games news

Since CHIO Aachen, I have been focusing on getting my horses more organised. I took my new mare (Ciske van Overis) to Valkenswaard to compete in the CSI2*. She was very good, placing third in the first grand prix and having just one fence down in the second grand prix.

I also took my new six-year-old horse (Quimono de la Roque) to Valkenswaard and I’m now preparing him for Lanaken. He did exceptionally well there, placing in every class over the two shows.

Itot has also been on a programme — in Chantilly, straight after Aachen, he jumped very well with three clear rounds but I slipped a bit in the jump-off and we ended up third. In Valkenswaard, I went for a good time and unfortunately, he knocked a couple down in the second round.

I’ve just come back from Rio (de Janeiro) where I took two horses; my eight-year-old (Kisby) and Itot. They both travelled very well, arriving a few days before the show. Itot had one class on the first day and then, after a rest day, he took part in the grand prix. He was very good, he jumped three clear rounds and finished third in the grand prix, which lifted me to third in the overall Global Champions Tour standings. That meant I won €170,000, so I was pretty happy.

It was a very good result and I couldn’t have gotten any higher with the way things stood. It was a very exciting event, with a lot of tension. Had I finished in sixth place in the grand prix, I don’t think I would have ended up third overall. My eight-year-old was also very good on the first day, coming fourth. She had a couple down but overall, I was very happy as it was a strong competition.

Countdown to the WEG

Itot was looking quite tired when he returned so he had a few quiet days in the field and in the woods. He had a few easy weeks and then I’ll built him up again. We’ll work on fitness, do some work on the racetrack — he’ll probably only jump a few times before the WEG. The Australian team will also come here (to Stal Tops) for a week’s preparation from the 20–24 September and the horses will fly out on 25 September.

As for myself, I’ve been trying to balance rest and work. The weekend before Rio, I took four days off and went to Monaco, which was nice. This weekend past, I had a wedding to attend and I rode the other horses a little, but it was a really relaxing weekend. I will be attending the Venice Film Festival which is so exciting and then I’ll go to Madrid with my two eight-year-olds (Ciske and Kisby). I’ll be back here for a few days and then I’ll go to Barcelona. After that, I’ll be preparing with the other members of the Australian team and I’ll go to Lanaken, but I’ll base myself at home and drive back and forth. I’ll then fly out to Kentucky on 27 September.

I’ve given myself a week there to settle in and I’ve booked myself into a really nice hotel, away from the other riders. I wanted something a little quieter so I can relax. I have the entire week off so I’ll probably watch some DVD’s and bring books to read, otherwise I will go crazy!

Expectations for the WEG

I’m feeling quite confident as I think it’s important to go into a championship on the back of some good form and to be mentally strong. I’d love for the Australian team to get a medal and personally, I want to get into the final — obviously that is my goal. I’d love to become World Champion as I think that is something that everyone dreams about.

The first day (of competition) is the Table C and if you’ve seen the results from past WEG’s, you’ll see that you don’t necessarily have to win on the first day to have a good chance. It’s more important to be consistent over the several days of competition to get through to the Rolex Top Four. The final is tricky as it really depends on which horses take part.

I’m not worried about how Itot will handle being ridden by other riders if we make it into the Rolex Top Four. He’s very small so he doesn’t have the same striding as the other horses. He’s quite sensitive but I’m not too worried about him as he has a great mind. A lot rests on which other horses are in the Top Four and their temperaments. The last WEG (in Aachen) went very well, but I was a little bit unlucky timing-wise with Shutterfly.

I’ve never competed in Kentucky before, although I have competed in Las Vegas and down in Florida, so I’m really looking forward to it.

Plans post-WEG

How things go at WEG will affect what happens afterwards. A lot can change with your horse and the amount you have to jump them at the championships can impact what will happen afterwards.

I will be leaving Kentucky on Sunday, 10 October and I will be in Oslo the following Thursday for the start of the new Rolex FEI World Cup season. So I’ll be back in the swing of things right away. I’ve got a very busy season coming up — I will be competing virtually every weekend, except one. It’s going to be pretty hard. I have a new eight-year-old stallion who I will probably start in Oslo. My focus for the rest of the year will be on the World Cup and the Rolex Top Ten Final in Geneva.

My parents will also come out for Christmas so they will attend the Geneva and London legs of the World Cup. It’s the first Christmas I’ve spent with them in 12 years, so I’m really looking forward to that. They’ve never been to any indoor shows in Europe so I said they should definitely come to the Geneva and London ones. After that, we’ll spend Christmas in Monaco and I will try to get some much-needed rest.

Edwina Alexander, Olympic and World Equestrian Games Jumper, is a friend of Rolex. Edwina will be competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

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Itot (Cevo Itot Du Château) has recovered well from his slight injury and we have both been very busy over the last couple of months on the Global Champions Tour (GCT). We have competed in Cannes, which I won with Itot, and was the only rider with three clear rounds, Monte Carlo, Estoril and Chantilly, where I came third and was beaten by two ladies – Laura Kraut and Pénélope Leprevost. He really feels back to his normal self, which is grea,t and he’s been jumping extremely well.

I went to the Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco where we stayed with some friends and had a spectacular view as the cars came out of the tunnel. It was great to see fellow Aussie, Mark Webber, win, although it was disappointing that the National Anthem was played a day late and not in Hamburg!

After the GCT round in Turin, I went to Wiesbaden where I had a really good show. On the first day I was second with Socrates (Cevo Socrates), and my young horse, Kisby (8-y-o), was second in the young horses. The following day I won the final of the youngster tour and Socrates was fourth in one of the other classes. Zorro went clear in the Grand Prix, but he went a little bit green in the jump off and he had a couple down, which was a shame.

Younger horses make progress

I’ve had time to concentrate on some of my younger horses during May and June while Itot had some time off. Kisby has stood out from the rest and been very impressive; she’s only had one fence down during four shows, and she has been placed in every class – I’m very happy with her. I don’t know if she’ll ever be as good as Itot, but she’ll definitely be a very good second horse. We’ve clicked really fast and really seem to suit each other.

I also have a new 8-year-old mare called Ciske Van Overis, who jumped in the GCT with Guy Williams, and I think she could be a very interesting new horse for me. I jumped her in Cannes and I also took her to a small three star show in San Remo, so all-in-all a great new addition to the team.

The team behind the scenes

Getting my horses to and from shows and deciding which ones need to go to where is very much down to Jan [Tops] and I, and it can be quite an episode!

We’ve got a permanent full-time vet based in Holland, who checks all of the horses before they travel on to shows, or before they travel back to Stal Tops in Holland. We also have an osteopath, but he is required only when there is an urgent need for him, and he’s based in Switzerland.

I have one groom, who is always with Itot, and another groom who travels around and does bit and pieces with the rest of the horses. Finally, I have a third groom based at Stal Tops, who looks after my other horses while I am away travelling, which is a lot of the time!

I’ve been concentrating on not doing to much and have been resting whenever possible over the last couple of months. The aim has been to focus on the big competitions, but to get results we have to pay special attention to the horses, particularly their hydration levels in the recent heat. It’s a balancing act of not doing too much, but enough!

It’s very important for me to get enough good results to stay in the top-10 of the Rolex Rankings during the month of August as that’s when the decisions are made with regards to pre-qualifications for the Rolex FEI World Cup Series, so my focus, apart from on the WEG, is going to be very much on that.

Edwina Alexander, Olympic and World Equestrian Games Jumper, is a friend of Rolex. Edwina will be competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

The Australian Equestrian Federation have confirmed that I am on the team for the WEG, and I can take a second horse with me if I have another one qualified. But I’m pretty set up for WEG with Itot (Cevo Itot Du Château) and I don’t really want to take another horse if it’s not 100% ready.

I recently sold four of my horses, including two that had qualified for WEG. On the back of those sales I have just received a new 8-year-old, Ciske Van Overis, that has already qualified; she was 7th in the Grand Prix in Hamburg with Guy Williams, and 5th with me in La Coruña. I’m not planning to take her to WEG, but she will be a useful back-up while Itot is being prepared.

Itot will have three more shows after Aachen — Chantilly, Valkenswaard and Rio de Janeiro — and then he will have a month’s break. He feels in really great shape and has been jumping well.

Overall, I’m looking forward to going to WEG and I fully appreciate how tough a competition it is. I personally think that WEG is the most difficult championship that we have in comparison to The Olympics as I feel that it takes a lot more out of the horse.

Looking back at WEG 2006

I have some fond memories of the last World Equestrian Games in Aachen, including finishing in the top four. My goal then was to get into the top 25, so I thought I did pretty wellt. My federation is a very strong supporter of whichever programme and direction I choose, but at the same time I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. Everyone has their aim and their goal, so I’ll try to do my best this year and my goal is to finish in the top four again.

It’s very important to prepare a good programme for your horse afterwards as the championships take a lot out of them; they have to be very fit as we found out after the last WEG in Aachen.

This year’s WEG is being held in the USA for the first time, but my horses are used to travelling and are incredibly fit, so I don’t see this being a problem. They will arrive in Kentucky a week before the competition starts, which is plenty of time for them to acclimatise. Funnily enough goign to Kentucky will actually involve less travelling time than if they were to go to somewhere like Portugal, within Europe.

Team verses the individual

I think that the Australia team for WEG is absolutely our strongest ever; we have two other strong riders — Chris Chugg and James Patterson Robinson — with the fourth partnership being selected following competitions in Hachenburg and Paderborn.

I would like to think that realistically we could finish in the first five, and of course a medal would be fantastic. However, for me it is difficult to think of WEG as a team competition; I have to focus on myself. I know that might sound a little bit selfish but that’s how it is, and how it’s been since I’ve been competing in Europe, especially over the last five or six years.

Edwina Alexander, Olympic and World Equestrian Games Jumper, is a friend of Rolex. Edwina will be competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

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The past month has been a real rollercoaster with quite a few shows and the Rolex FEI World Cup Final. Overall, I’m feeling pretty good in myself and I’m trying to get as much rest as possible, but not doing too much isn’t the easiest thing in the world at the moment!

I was up at 4am last Wednesday morning to go to Copenhagen for a photo shoot and got back home at about 1am the following morning. I was then up very early to jump five horses ahead of the four-day show in Mannheim, so I haven’t had as much rest as I would have hoped for!

Itot (Cevo Itot Du Château)

Itot was a completely different horse when he arrived in Geneva for the Rolex Final compared to how he was in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Paris. I’m not quite sure what happened but his back was causing him a lot of discomfort; maybe he rolled in his box, but I really didn’t know what the problem was at the time.

In hindsight I shouldn’t have jumped Itot on the second day of the Final, and I was thinking that before I went into the ring; sometimes you should trust your instincts. After the round my osteopath took a look and said that one of his joints was a little bit out, so it was just a case of putting that back in. Thankfully, after one week of just walking, being on the lunge and some massage, he’s much better. I did some small jumps with him this morning and he’s feeling like his old self again.

Rolex FEI World Cup Final

The Rolex FEI World Cup Final was a fantastic experience and in my opinion it’s one of the most beautiful indoor shows in the world. I stayed at a fantastic hotel which was right opposite the showground, which was lovely and also extremely convenient when I needed to practice or get to my classes!

I was typically doing some light riding every morning between 7 – 8.00am to get the horses loose and relaxed, and I think I rode once at lunchtime as the classes weren’t until the evening. Outside of that I watched a little bit of the other classes, did a bit of reading and went for a few walks to try and stay as relaxed as I possibly could.

I was obviously disappointed with my result in the Rolex FEI World Cup, but Socrates’ (Cevo Socrates) performance and second place in the Grand Prix was a great consolation; he always seems to pull something out when it matters.

What’s next…?

This weekend I’m taking out four horses, including one that I’ve only ridden once and don’t know at all! It will give some of my younger, less experienced horses a chance to step up another level, and I aim to do that at least once every three weeks with those horses at that stage of their education. My focus now is very much on the Global Champions Tour.

Edwina Alexander, Olympic and World Equestrian Games Jumper, is a friend of Rolex. Edwina will be competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

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Top international showjumper Edwina Alexander will be sharing the highs and lows of her preparations for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on HorseandHound.co.uk each month in the run up to the event (25 Sept – 10 Oct).

What is a typical training day for you?

I normally wake up at 7am and I’m in the stables by 8am ready to ride. Every day is a little bit different, but on average I ride between 6 and 8 horses each day, and I will be riding until 1pm. I’ll ride again for a couple of hours after lunch, before spending some time in the office catching up with emails, organising travel arrangements for upcoming shows, sending videos to clients. I feel more relaxed if I know exactly what’s going on!

Have you been busy since your Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series win in Vigo?

I kept Socrates (Cevo Socrates) and Itot (Cevo Itot Du Château) busy in the lead up to Gothenburg, where they both jumped well. Since Gothenburg they have both had a break from competing enjoying some hacking in the woods, dressage and a bit of a lunge in the afternoon. I have been to Australia since Gothenburg but they have both been kept active with some small jumps work.

What kind of character is Itot?

I’ve had him for two years and he’s a funny horse and extremely sensitive. He can be hard to catch in the stables and to get out of the box, and more often than not my groom will have some carrots or sugar when I’m trying to get on him!

Who are your main threats at the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final in Geneva?

I would have to say Jessica (Kürten) is probably my biggest threat because she and her horse are both very competitive. I admire her a lot because she is tough and determined, and she seems to have that edge. Pénélope (Leprevost) is another rider that I admire as she is so quick. You never know with Marcus (Ehning), but he’s one of the best riders in the world and it will depend on how well he has his horse organised.

How do you rate your chances at the Rolex FEI World Cup Final?

After how well Itot jumped at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, I feel really confident and relaxed. Itot jumped very well in Gothenburg and he definitely feels better than ever at the moment. At the last World Cup Final in Las Vegas, I wasn’t anywhere near as well prepared as I am now. This time around Itot doesn’t have to travel as far and he and I both know the arena in Geneva very well.

How will you be preparing for WEG?

This year is one of my biggest years ever. I have the Rolex FEI World Cup Final and WEG and also the Global Champions Tour, which I need to qualify for. I’ll use the Global Champions Tour shows to prepare Itot for WEG, but I’m conscious that I don’t want him to do too many shows or too much travelling.

Edwina Alexander, Olympic and World Equestrian Games Jumper, is a friend of Rolex. Edwina will be competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

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Read Edwina Alexander’s latest news

Edwina Alexander is one of the world’s top show jumpers. Born in Australia, she grew up in a non-equestrian household and began riding a neighbour’s horses when she was eight year old.

At the age of 18, she didn’t have any good horses to compete and considered giving up. But her parents persuaded her to continue and invested in better mounts.

In her early 20s, she moved to Europe and after spending time working for Ludo Philippaerts she met her partner, Dutch former Olympic team gold medallist Jan Tops.

When Jan asked her to ride Pialotta, her career changed for the better. She adjusted her riding style and success followed quickly. Together, Edwina and Pialotta finished fourth in the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

More top horses came and in January 2008, Jan surprised Edwina by buying Itot Du Chateau from Michel Hecart for her to ride.

The 15.2hh “Itot” jumped the sole double clear with Edwina at the 2008 Olympic Games and has helped secure her a place at this year’s World Cup final in Las Vegas.

The success Edwina has had with Itot, as well as Late Night 16 and Isovlas Socrates this year, has her currently ranked fourth in the World.

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Austrlia’s Edwina Alexander and her 15.2hh Olympic partner Isovlas Itot Du Chateau produce the sole double clear in the Rolex World Cup qualifier at Olympia.

The time in the first round was very tight causing riders to make mistakes as they tried to make it home within the 69sec they were alloted.

“In hindsight, I think it was about two to three seconds too tight,” said course designer Bob Ellis. “But the jury decided to leave it as it was.”

However, Edwina was glad it wasn’t extended.

“My horse is so fast, I knew he would make it,” she said.

John Whitaker, riding Mandy Hall’s Casino 43 had produced the first clear, and thought it would have been enough to win, given that the 32 riders before him had left the course with either jumping or time penalties. But Edwina followed immediately and repeated the feat.

John went first in the jump-off, but hit the final fence.

“I knew my time was beatable, but I was hoping for another clear,” he said.

Edwina decided to go for a steady clear to secure her win on this her first visit to Olympia.

“I knew I could have a fence down, but that was a risk I had to take,” she said.

But she needn’t have worried as her little chestnut gelding jumped round cleanly for a second time.

“People doubted his ability when [my partner] Jan [Tops] bought him. They said he’d be too small for the Olympics, but he has the heart of a lion and jumped two clear rounds in the team competition in Hong Kong,” said Edwina, who is based with Jan in the Netherlands.

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John now plans to visit some more World Cup shows.

“Now I have some points, I’ll see about going to some more qualifiers,” he said.

This win leaves Edwina second on the Western European League with 39 points, the same as Ben Maher.

Ben finished fourth in the class here on one time fault with his own and Quainton Stud’s Robin Hood W behind Sweden’s Helena Lundback ad Madick.

“I planned to get some points here, so he’ll have a rest after this show,” said Ben. “It’s been great to give my horses some experience here and I’m not disappointed with a time fault, he jumped fantastically.”

William Whitaker secured his third victory of the show in the H&M pairs relay. He was riding Johnny Greenwood’s It’s Super Girl, and was partnered by his uncle Michael with Deborah Cox’s Fairview’s Mirabelle D’Or.

Stay in touch with all the action from Olympia on Horseandhound.co.uk throughout the show and don’t miss H&H’s show jumping reports in 25 December issue (on sale 23 December) and 1 January issue (on sale 2 January).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Michael Whitaker missed out on a place in the top four change-horse show jumping final at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen tomorrow when finishing eighth in today’s penultimate two-round competition with Insul Tech Portofino.

The top 25 horses and riders were tested to the limit today over two courses of colossal fences, and a single pole down for the British rider in the first round proved very costly. Portofino was jumping big and clean until catching the oxer at fence seven and although she never touched another pole, the mare completed with an additional two time faults. The British duo were foot-perfect at their second attempt but, lying 12th going into the final stages, were unable to catch the leaders.

For the first time in the history of the world show jumping championships, three women go forward to the final along with Belgium’s Jos Lansink. Australia’s Edwina Alexander steered the seasoned 15-year-old mare Isovlas Pialotta to a superb double clear to move up from over night 21st to earn her place. Lansink’s Cavalor Cumano continued to make it all look like a walk in the park as the big grey sailed over the immense tracks with apparent ease to join her.

The home crowd was ecstatic when Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum survived a single error at the water in the first round to stay in the race for Germany with Shutterfly while, completing a truly world-class line-up, long-time leader Beezie Madden, whose horse Authentic made his first mistake of the tournament when also getting his feet wet, completes the final-four line-up.

Only one woman has ever taken the coveted World Championship title — Canada’s Gail Greenough who came out on top in Aachen in 1986 — and all the talk around the arena tonight was about the possibility that tomorrow’s winner would be another female. Following yesterday’s competition, the three girls agreed that while their horses should be similar to ride, Lansink’s colossal grey could prove something of a challenge for them. The Belgian rider insisted that Cumano is ridden by a girl when working at home every day but the sheer size of the stallion is likely to create some interesting moments.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now