+34 649 293 273 sunshinetour@sunshinetour.net
Ireland’s Niamh McEvoy Claims Victory in the Big Tour’s Headline Class
Vejer, February 21, 2026.
The day at Dehesa Montenmedio once again delivered a varied and demanding program of competitions, with many riders fine-tuning their form ahead of Sunday’s four Grand Prix classes. It was a day marked by excitement and speed, with thrilling moments that kept spectators focused on every round.
In the Big Tour, the headline 1.45m class—counting toward the Longines FEI Ranking and featuring more than 70 participants—was won by Ireland’s Niamh McEvoy with Jargon DN, a 12-year-old horse registered in the KWPN studbook and by Zirocco Blue. Argentina’s Matías Larocca finished second with Con Corrado 4, while Britain’s Sameh El Dahan, one of the notable newcomers of the week, completed the podium with WKD Balou Breeze.
The other Big Tour class, the 1.35m, was dominated by French riders. Romain Dreyfus and Mathieu Billot took first and second place respectively with Diaron’s Lady PS and Heartsong de Pleville.
In the Medium Tour, Dutch rider Rogier Linssen posted the fastest time among the 60 starters in the 1.45m class with Commander Lux. In the 1.40m class, Germany’s Gerrit Nieberg claimed another victory with Solaia. The winner of the Grand Prix in the first two weeks of the 2025 Andalucía Sunshine Tour, together with the daughter of Stakkato Gold, secured his fourth win of the circuit.
British rider Gemma Stevens took victory in the 1.35m class with Johan-Some. The 1.30m trophy also traveled to Great Britain thanks to Thomas Whitaker’s win with Gameboy SWB, a son of Gamelus R, with whom he had already claimed victory in one of the previous day’s classes.
In the Small Tour, Morocco’s Mohammed Al Ahrach was the standout performer, winning the two main classes. He set the best time in the 1.45m with Komiek vd Bisschop and added his fifth circuit victory in the 1.40m with Havane Denfer. In this latter class, Spain’s Elena Appendino finished third with Pompei van de Fruitkorf.
The 1.35m and 1.30m classes bore the signature of Romania’s Anda Elena Bojita, who won with Chocolate Brown, and Spain’s Elena Appendino, who after several strong placings finally claimed victory with Grupo Prom Hacienda.
High participation was once again the hallmark of the CSI1*. In the 1.20m class, with more than 100 combinations competing, victories went to Safia El Bied with Astrait de Hus and Bianca Babanitz with Stazzano Gold.
Kevin González at Full Speed in the Jump&Drive
Another major highlight was the Jump&Drive held in the Jappeloup Arena, where competitors demonstrated their skill first on horseback and then behind the wheel of a car. This dynamic and spectacular format drew a large crowd and created an unbeatable atmosphere. Victory went to Kevin González de Zárate from Vitoria, a regular dominator of this discipline in Spain, who took the win with Helsinki. With this result, he now totals three victories so far in the circuit.
Regional Classes
In the Regional classes, Ireland’s Anna Moore was the best in the 1.20m with Nero van de Biucxtale. In the 1.00m class, the Netherlands’ Sammy-Jo Selten claimed another victory with Hoekhorst Jewel, while in the 0.90m class Morocco’s Sara Jamal Eddine topped the leaderboard with Dune de la Rasse.
The third week of the Andalucía Sunshine Tour now enters its final stretch. On Sunday, four Grand Prix classes will be contested in a day that promises strong emotions. The Dehesa Montenmedio circuit, the longest-running in Spain, is sponsored by the Government of Andalusia—through the Ministry of Tourism and Andalusia Abroad—and by the Provincial Council of Cádiz, institutional support that strengthens the event’s international profile and its sporting, economic, and tourism impact on the region.
21/02/2026 by Sunshinetour News , Press releases
Te puede interesar
Stephan de Freitas wins the Diputación de Cádiz Grand Prix and closes the CSI4 of the ASST
SunshineTour, 22/03/2026
The seventh and final week of the Andalucía Sunshine Tour 2026 gets underway
SunshineTour, 18/03/2026
Stephan de Freitas Barcha wins the CSI4* Stephex Grand Prix at the ASST 2026
SunshineTour, 15/03/2026