Edwina Tops-Alexander battles out Saut Hermès Grand Prix with Penelope Leprevost

Edwina Tops-Alexander battles out Saut Hermès Grand Prix with Penelope Leprevost
In an exciting jump-off between Edwina Tops-Alexander, home rider Penelope Leprevost and the Irishman Betram Allen ended in a super win for Australian rider in the Grand Prix Hermès this afternoon

After a tough first round over the 1.60m course under the glass dome of the Le Grand Palais in central Paris only the international trio remained to compete for victory final class at Saut Hermés today. First starter in the jump was Allen with his trusty gray Molly Malone V (v. Kannan). The duo that has won on many occasions put down a good ride of 39.20 seconds. But it was not without risk and the pair had one bar fall down to the ground.

Then it was Leprevost who had saddled her stallion Vagabond de la Pomme (v. Vigo D Arsouilles St)  for the final top class. Encouraged by the Parisian crowd the rider knows cleared the course in the fast time of 41.44 seconds.

But the battle was not won for the French as there was one more rider to go. Aboard her KWPN mare California (s. Libero H) Tops-Alexander knew what she had to do. She rode a nearly identical course with the top mare that is owned by John and Patrick Lenssens, but crossed the finish  just eight hundredths faster than that of Leprevost.

The top five was completed by an all German "team". Ludger Beerbaum and Christian Ahlmann both had a pole come down during their first round. Luckily the riders always keep a good pace on route and that gave them a top placing today . Beerbaum and Chiara 222 (v. Contender) finished in fourth and Ahlmann took fifth with Caribis Z (v. Caritano).

Look here for all the results.