Release date: 30/06/2011 |    

After a quiet and steady start to the Global Champions Tour 2011 season Australian Edwina Alexander has had some highly promising recent few weeks. She won the GCT Grand Prix of Cannes, became the first GCT rider to hit the Million Euros mark for prize -money earned since the series began in 2006 and after the Monaco event she leads the GCT Ranking.

Edwina kick started the 2011 season with a 9th placing at Doha riding Ciske van Overis, (pictured above). Riding Cevo Itot du Chateau she was placed 10^th in Valencia, 7^th in Hamburg and headed the podium at the GCT Cannes event for the second year running. Edwina also rode Itot at the GCT Grand Prix of Monaco, having one rail down in the first round and jumping clean in the second round to place 7^th Overall.

Her consistent performance saw her shoot to the lead in the GCT rankings after the 5^th leg of the 10 event series in Monaco.  As Itot de Chateau (pictured right) travelled back to Valkenswaard for a well -earned rest, Edwina puts full concentration onto her younger Grand Prix mount Ciske van Overis as she prepares for the Global Champions Tour of Portugal this weekend (July 1-2). Here Edwina discusses her recent successes, being on the road and her preparations for Estoril:

> Q: You must be very pleased with your proceedings around the Global Champions Tour after Monaco. Not only did you become the first GCT rider to have won a million euro’s in prize-money, you also became the leader of the GCT Rankings. Describe your feelings over the weekend.

> EA: To be honest I was not really focusing on these two achievements, though I'm really happy that I have been the first rider to reach the milestone mark. Although I was 7th in Monaco I was very happy with the way Itot was jumping. The ranking can change from show to show so it’s a matter of being consistent. I have been placed in every GCT event this year and I hope I can keep it up.

> Q: Being on the international show jumping circuit it certainly looks very glamorous. Yet there is a tremendous amount of hard work and long days for riders to be able to stay at the top of the sport. Describe what it has taken for you to actually compete on the GCT circuit particularly in the month of June whereby 3 GCT events have been schedule.

> EA: It's been a hectic month but a very good one and that makes it easier
to keep going, though I really have to try to manage my time to feel
organized. For sure after winning Cannes and having a rather late
night it was not so easy to travel to Weisbaden the next day to compete but It was worth it because my horses jumped very well. As long as I can get to bed in time and have a good diet I'm doing fine.

> Q: What pressures does it put on you as a rider knowing that you are the leader of the richest show jumping series in the world?

> EA: None at all, like I said there is so much that can happen. We are only half way through the season so I don’t feel any pressure at all.

> Q:  What are your preparations leading into Estoril this next weekend and what horse will you be competing on in the GCT Grand Prix of Portugal?

> EA: After the GCT Monaco event I was in San Remo jumping Ciske who I will take as my first horse and then Socrates for the other classes. Ciske came down already a week before Monaco so I would train her whilst my other horses were also down in San Remo. Together with the help of our dressage rider Sussane, it definitely has made my life a lot easier.

> Q: What do you like most about the Estoril event?

> EA: I really like the grass arena and it is a much more relaxing atmosphere. Everything about the show is so convenient and the event is only over two days, which is also very nice for the riders. I like Estoril so much that I decided to travel down a few days before to try to rest, whilst my horses were travelling.

Photo credits; Stefano Grasso/GCT