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Portugal also claims the Small Grand Prix at the Andalucía Pre-Sunshine Tour
Vejer, January 17th, 2026.
The Portuguese delegation continues to deliver outstanding performances at the CSI2* Andalucía Pre-Sunshine Tour. On the penultimate day of competition, they added two more victories to their tally, including the Small Grand Prix, confirming their excellent form at Dehesa Montenmedio.
With an intense schedule — three CSI2* classes, two CSIYH classes, one training class and two regional competitions — it was a vibrant day of sport at Dehesa Montenmedio, whose facilities continue to improve year after year in both quality and infrastructure.
The curtain came down on Arena 5 (Milton) with the thrilling jump-off of the 1.40m Small Grand Prix. António Matos Almeida once again demonstrated his speed and expertise in this type of class. Riding the experienced Volver de la Vigne, the Portuguese rider was the fastest of the five combinations to deliver two clear rounds. He narrowly denied victory to Germany’s Kendra Claricia Brinkop, who, after her brilliant previous day with three wins, had to settle this time for second place aboard Que Passa de Regor.
The best Spanish result came courtesy of Carolina Aresu. The Madrid-based rider, who went into the jump-off with Loretta H, once again produced a clear round that allowed her to lead the standings for several minutes, eventually finishing in a very creditable fourth place.
On Arena 18 (Big Star), the day got underway with the 1.35m class, where Jaroslav Sima claimed victory with Questa Dwerse Hagen, a 10-year-old BWP mare by Leandro VG. The Czech rider is competing in his first international show of 2026 at Montenmedio with this combination, which had already jumped bigger tracks in 2025 and achieved here its first international win. Spain’s José Antonio García Diana also stood out, finishing fifth with Marola P&M, a daughter of Cornet Obolensky with whom the rider from Écija won two national Grand Prix classes last season.
Portuguese colours were once again at the top of the podium on Arena 8 (Baloubet du Rouet), where Sara Ferreira Pinto, riding Cooper 19, posted the fastest time in the 1.20m class. Second place went to Spain’s Álvaro Blanco-Traba with H de Guerre Ceran.
In the young horses classes, Bella Ciao MKM Z (by Bamako de Muze out of a Kannan dam), ridden by Belgian rider Cassandre Malherbe, claimed victory in the 6-year-old category, repeating her success at Montenmedio after having won the 5-year-old class at last year’s edition. In the 5-year-old class, run without a jump-off, all combinations that finished clear shared first place, including Dia Labetta PS and Lavezzy du Ochy, both ridden by Spain’s Pedro Mateos Bernáldez.
Very positive impressions continue to emerge from this first CSI Andalucía Pre-Sunshine Tour, which serves as the prelude to the XXXII Andalucía Sunshine Tour, a seven-week circuit sponsored by the Regional Government of Andalusia, through the Ministry of Tourism and Andalusia Abroad, and by the Provincial Council of Cádiz.
17/01/2026 by Sunshinetour News , Press releases
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