The glamorous equestrian rider with the gentle face and determined eyes is competing in June's Jumping International de Monte-Carlo.
Edwina Tops-Alexander's story is one of determination driven by passion. Born in Sydney in 1974, the bright-eyed blonde first started riding horses thanks to her neighbours and was so enthusiastic about it that her parents bought her her own horses. Living day-to-day with these animals became natural to her. "Every horse has its own personality," she says affectionately. "Like humans, some are very anxious, others are afraid of nothing." Growing up Edwina realised she was going to have to make the big jump of coming to Europe if she wanted to make her name in showjumping.
Top form in competition
The Fédération Equestre Internationale classes Edwina among the best riders in the world; when not at home in Monaco, she's competing abroad. The first Australian finalist in history at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, she has since competed in several Olympic Games and won a multitude of Grand Prix and World Cup shows in Brussels, Valkenswaard, London, Cannes, Vigo, Doha etc. "I rode in 48 competitions last year, mostly top category ones. We rarely have time to visit the cities I compete in; from time to time we wonder about living a normal life," she grins.
Hatted and booted
For three years now the champion has been brand ambassadress for watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre: "Managing my time is absolutely essential." During her career she has been especially successful in the Global Champions Tour created by her husband, Jan Tops, whom she married in Monaco in 2011. "Jan plays a vital role in my career. He has a gift for finding great horses and the right riders to mount them," this passionate woman continues, mentioning with obvious pleasure her much-loved Pilotta and Cevo Itot du Château, two horses that have marked her equestrian life, before concluding: "With a horse you have to find the right attitude. The ultimate goal is to be perfectly synchronised to clear the jumps."
Book
L’Etoile australienne,
autobiographie d’Edwina Tops-Alexander,
préface de Charlotte Casiraghi,
Éditions Lavauzelle, 2012, 152 p., 19 €
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