The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Law changes needed to boost Aussie showjumping

Roar Rookie
19th May, 2016
1

Edwina Tops-Alexander is the most accomplished Australian showjumper of the 21st Century.

She’s won the overall Global Champions Tour season two times, has amassed over four million dollars competing in the GCT, and is officially the richest rider in the GCT. She’s broken records, becoming the first Australian to place inside the top ten at any World Equestrian Games.

Even though her career has produced many memories for the 42-year-old Australian from Sydney, there’s one thing she hasn’t done – compete at home.

As many of you will already know, showjumping is at its peak in Europe. Most of the five star shows are held there, as well as having a huge fan-base that we can’t produce here in Australia.

Edwina had to make the tough move from Sydney in 1997 to live her dreams as a five star professional showjumper. The problem is Europe has always been the traditional home of Showjumping.

There’s never been a five star show here, mainly because of quarantine laws. You can’t take a sport horse out of competition for six weeks!

With the recent announcement of Australia possibly bidding for the World Equestrian Games in 2022, things could be getting better. If a GCT event was possible here, it would boost the fan-base significantly and make Edwina and her fellow showjumpers household names.

Even though she’s represented us at two Olympics, Edwina is still rather unknown and talked about by Australian Media. It’s not fair on her, as even though she’s been living in Europe for the past 20 years she still represents us.

Advertisement

Things need to change to build the sport in Australia.

close