Decisive victory for Emanuele Camilli and ‘Odense Odeveld’ in the Andalucía Grand Prix

This Italian rider cruised around the jump off, for solid win in this 4* Paris Olympics 2024 qualifer

The clear winner of the Junta de Andalucía, 4* Grand Prix, was Italian; Emanuele Camilli riding  ‘Odense Odeveld’ by Diamant de Semilly, dam sire, ‘Querlybet Hero’ owned by Paul Schockemöhle Pferdehaltung GmbH, R&R Horses Germany.

Emanuele was first to go in the ten horse jump off of this 1.55 Longines Ranking  GP,  course which was designed by Louis Konickx.  Louis told us before the class, that he had designed a course “including triple combinations, double combinations.  This is a very interesting arena, it goes a little bit up and down, and I use that in my distances and my lines. I hope we get a real exciting competition. 12 clears would be really nice”.  So his predictions were almost spot on.

After his win Emanuele told us:  “I’m really, really happy, for many reasons,  first of all because I won and then the second  this is an Olympic year,  so to start preparations in this way, actually, I’m proper happy about it.  My horse jumped fantastic , it was his second Grand Prix after a little break, because last year,… we just restarted  and yeah,  it couldn’t be better!  Today the course was actually really selective, OK everybody knows the course builder…. he  has a lot of experience” Emanuele went on to explain the sign of good course design is that the faults are spread across all the fences and…  “ it was really good actually and the jump off was fast.  And we had a lot of fun! I hope you did too!”

Emanuele’s time in the jump off was 38.26s, so this was the time to beat, and no-one came close, indeed, he was the only rider to finish clear in under 40s. Coming in second was, Dutch, Michael Greeve on 9yr old, ’Denver’(Diarado’ x ‘Quantum’), in a time of 40.03s with a lovely round.  Hot on Michael’s heels was Spanish, Inma Roquet Autonell with ‘Icenta del Maset’ (‘Indret del Masset’ x ‘Cento’), in 40.05s and in fourth, was Swiss, Anthony Bourquard with ‘White Gate’ (‘Casalito’ x ‘Illbruck Contago’).  In fifth and in her first 1.55 GP, class was Odile Gierech from Luxembourg, with ‘No-comment de Septon’ (‘Jenson Van’t Meulenhof’ x ‘Couleur Rubin’).

The director of Tourism for the Junta de Andalucía, Francisco Montes; the director for  Sports Systems and Values in Andalucía, María de Nova and the territorial delegation for agriculture, fishing, water and Rural development in Cadiz,  Francisco Moreno García, gave out the prizes for this 30th edition of the Andalucía Sunshine Tour, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Government of Andalucía, through Tourism and Sports of Andalucía.

The second Ranking class, the Medium Tour GP, was won by Belgian, Gilles Thomas with ‘Elfra Van Beek Z’ (‘El Salvador’ x ‘Vagabond de la Pomme’) in an 18 rider jump off. He stopped the clock in 32.42s, with German rider, Daniel Deusser coming second on ‘Killer Queen VDM’ (‘Eldorado VD Zeshoek’ x ‘For Pleasure’). Two Dutch riders tied for third, Iris Michels with ‘Bugano De L’Abbaye’ (‘Ugano Sitte’ x ‘Made in Semilly’) and Sanne Thijssen with ‘Cupcake Z’ (‘Chacco-Blue’ x ‘Caretano Z’), Finally in fifth was Austria, Christoph Obernauer with ‘Kleons Renegade’ (‘Quintero’ x ‘Stakkato’).

There was a Swiss win in the last Ranking class, the Small Tour GP.  In a 20 horse jump off the winner was Peter Burri and ‘Dubai 64’ (‘Chin Champ’ x ‘Casall’).  Two Irish riders took second and third, Ivan Dalton with ‘Plaisire D’Api’ (‘For Pleasure’ x ‘Apple Juice’) and Patrick Hickey with ‘Casago II’ (‘Casall’ x ‘GRS Bloodstock LTD’).  Swedish, Jacob Hellström with ‘Charles’ (‘Conthinder’) was fourth, and fifth was French, Edouard Le Boux with ‘Enjoy Pernelle’ (‘Splendero de Damvil’ x ‘Richebourg’).

Matthew Sampson for Britain, was the winner of the Big Tour 1.45, with  ‘Curraghgraigue Obos Flight’.  Second was Spanish, Leticia Riva Gil with ‘Cadum de Champloue’ and third, Irish, Niamh McEvoy with ‘BP Limitless’.  In the 1.35, Moroccan,  Farid Amanzar won with ‘Elvis Van Overis Z’.  In both second and third was British,  Ben Walker with  ‘Fygo Von D’Ouwe Grint’ followed by ‘Melvin VD Bisschop’.

Medium Tour 1.40 was won by Brazilian, Pedro Veniss with ‘Chesterfield Z’; second was Moroccan,  Badr Khiati con ‘Numax’ and third, German, Enno Klaphake with ‘NC Verso Red Wine’.

Ben Walker continued his success, this time winning the Medium Tour 1.30 with ‘Heidiemorka’; Italian, Luca Moneta was second with ‘Njves’ and Dutch, Anouk De Ruijter third with ‘Moviestar’.  The 1.20 was won by Moroccan, Mohamed Al Ahrach with ‘Coco Rocha’;  second was German, Kendra Claricia Brinkop with ‘Kintaro Pommex Z’ and third, Italian, Matilde Vassena Saravall with ‘Figo D’Acceglio’.

German rider, Helmut Schönstetter with ‘EIC Lloyd’,  Spanish, Celia Cobo with ‘Kristal’s Beauty B’ and Irish Alex Finney with ‘L’Esprit Hero Z’ were Top-3 in the Small Tour 1.40.    Irish, Shane O’Reilly with ‘BWE Valdi Semilly’;  British,  Joanne Whitaker with ‘Just Jack’ and l Celia Cobo with ‘ I Am Dutch P&M’, were Top 3 in the 1.30.

In the CSI1*,Irish riders, Greg Broderick with ‘Be Kalinka’ and Brian Cassidy with  ‘Guminka’ took the two top podium places in the 1.35 Grand Prix.  In third was American,  5* event rider, Cosby Green with ‘Jos Ufo de Quidam’

Jumping starts up again on Thursday with the CSI2* and a new Young Horse competition, which will continue until Sunday.  This week in a transition week between the two main competition blocks, with competitions running at a slightly lower intensity.