Spanish rider Kevin González de Zárate wins the Jump&Drive Class

Tim Wilks wins the Ayuntamiento de Vejer Trophy, Small GP, with ‘Diamanthella VG Z’

The Small Grand Prix was a 1.45 Longines Ranking class and was kindly sponsored by the Ayuntamiento de Vejer.  There were 73 participants with 20 going through to the jump off; the course was designed by the Italian course builder Elio Travagliati.

Our winner was the Canadian rider, Tim Wilks on his lovely mare ‘Diamanthella VG Z’ who is by the amazingly successful breeding stallion, ’Diamant de Semilly’ out of a ‘Hickory Mail’ mare. They stopped the clock in 36.89s, and were the only pair to come in under 37s. This is their best result here so far at Montenmedio; they were also third in the 1.50 WKD Trophy ranking class on the 23rd of this month.

In  second was the American rider, who has had great results here so far, Michael Hughes and today he was riding  the gelding, ’Kashmir van D’oude Pastory’ who is owned by the Stephex Stable and who really stepped up today.

In third was the French Olympic rider, Penelope Leprevost with the stallion,  ‘GFE Candy de ‘Nantuel’ who is by ‘Luidam’  but his dam sire is also ’Diamant de Semilly’. In fourth was Danish rider, Zascha Nygaard Andreasen who was riding ‘Localito 2; fifth was Italian, Luca Moneta with ‘El Capone RK’.

In Big Tour 1.35 class there was a Dutch winner, Roosje Brouwer with  the mare ‘New-Livia van ’T Roth’ (NonStop’, x Calypso III’), this was a speed class and they stopped the clock in 63.64s, comfortably ahead of Danish rider Jennifer Pedersen with ‘Diavoltan Old’ who finished in 65.97s. Third was Irish, Shane O’Reilly with ‘BWE Nonstop Caprice’ who is also by the stallion ‘Nonstop’! Fourth and fifth places were taken by the Italian rider, Giorgio Sacco with ‘Delando de St Leger’ and ‘Epsom de Vaudival’.

The biggest class of the day was the Medium Tour 1.50, held in the Baloubet de Rouet arena. The Swiss phenomenon, Martin Fuchs, took the two top places in this speed class. In a time of 40.25s, he won with ‘Che Tipa’ who has had a super set of results here at the tour. The mare is owned by Willow Grace Farms and is by ‘Casero della Caccia’, and adds this result to two other wins (one a Ranking class) and three, second places (also one Ranking).

In second place he was riding ‘Bastille’ and stopped the clock in 40.26s just 0.01s behind ‘Che Tipa’!! This mare also has an impressive set of results here so far, with a win in the 1.35 class and 3rd in the 1.45, but this is her best result to date here at the Tour.

In third was Charlotte Bettendorf from Luxembourg, with ‘Quality Star Z’; fourth was Hungarian rider, Vince Jarmy with ‘Melypso Blue  PS FRH’ and in fifth was Czech rider, Oliver Pisarik with Centoulago.

The 8yr old class was set at 1.45 and was a 2Ph.  Winner was the prolific Spanish rider, Alvaro Gonzalez Zarate,  with ‘Casa Diva PS, who is by ‘Casallco’ and owned by Heras Horses and Events and Yeguada Valbanera S.L.  Second was  the Dutch rider, Frank Schuttert with ‘Panama van’t Roosakker’ who is by ‘Echo van’t Spieveld’. Third was Martin Fuchs with ‘Pina van de Moerhoeve’; fourth, Dutch rider, Rogier Linssen with ‘Huepens Conquesta’ and fifth was Spanish rider, Estrat Mateu with ‘Pas Normal V’.

The Medium Tour 1.40 was won in a fabulous time, by British, Matthew Sampson with ‘Elisa BJX’ in 57.00s dead, she adds this to two other wins, and a second, here so far at the Tour. In second was Sofia Manzetti with ‘Marko Polo’ in 62.06s and in third was Roosje Brouwer, this time with ‘I.Star’. Fourth was Adam Prudent (USA) with ‘Dame de Pique’ and fifth, Italian rider,  Giulia Mattioli with ‘Daiquiri de Nyze Z’.

The Medium Tour 1.30 was won by Belgian rider, Dries Dekkers with ‘Pepijn van het Lindehof’, second was Swedish rider, Jacob Hellström with ‘Starline’ and third was Dutch rider, Sanne Thijssen with ‘Golden Chaco’.

The Small Tour 1.45 was won by Irish, Kevin Gallagher with ‘DHF Lift Off’, second was French rider. Laura Monier with ‘Attaque’ and third was Dutch rider, Eric Jr. van der Vleuten with  ‘Big Boston’.

The Small Tour, 1.35 was won by  Jude Burgess, this time riding ‘Dreams of Don’. Second was another British rider, Daniella Stapleton with ‘Fire’ and third, Spanish rider, Celia Cobo with ‘Messita Quick PS’.

The Small Tour 1.30 was won by British rider, Sophie Evans on ‘Florida van Maarle, second was Spanish rider, Cristina Domato Rozamontes with ‘Fleurdelys du Gast’ and third was British rider, Jude Burgess with ‘Eddy Beech’.

The wonderfully entertaining Suzuki Jump & Drive was won by Spanish rider, Kevin Gonzalez de Zarate with ‘Kilimanjaro van Overis Z’ in fine style, in a time of 66.42s. Second was Matt Sampson with ‘Kayloma H&H’, in 69.93; third was local Spanish rider Alejandro Fernandez Sanchez, with ‘Rapid Boy II 26.11’; fourth, British Jake Ward with ‘Stakkatolita’ and in fifth, was Kevin’s brother, Alvaro  with ‘Braveheart’. Great fun was had by all, crowd and participants,  in this Suzuki sponsored class and free beverages were provided by Mahou beers.

Tomorrow we have 12 classes, including three FEI Longings Ranking Grand Prix classes for each of the Tours, and the Big Tour GP is also a qualifier for this year’s Europeans and the Paris Olympics. 

The Andalucia Sunshine Tour is sponsored by the ‘Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte’ and co-financed by the European Union.