+34 649 293 273 sunshinetour@sunshinetour.net
The 30th Andalucía Sunshine Tour kicks off with an intense week of competition
More than 2,000 riders and 3,500 caballos from 60 countries are set to participate across nine weeks of competition here at Montenmedio
This coming Sunday we hold the first Grand Prix qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics
The Andalucía Sunshine Tour commences its 30th edition tomorrow and is already breaking all former records. There are some 3,500 horses and more than 2,000 riders, with 60 nationalities, all ready to compete across the remaining seven weeks of competition here at Montenmedio, from tomorrow right up to the 24th of March.
During this time more than 2.5 million euros in prize money will be won and 550 classes held across these last seven weeks, including 35 FEI Longines Rankings and six Olympic qualifiers for the Paris Games 2024.
Once again many of the best riders in the world will gather here at the start of this very important season. Already installed here are Swiss Icon, Steve Guerdat, who is the current European champion with ‘Dynamix de Belheme’ and five times Olympian Medalist, capped off with Individual Gold in London 2012, and once again in the top five of the World FEI Rankings; Steve’s compatriot, Martin Fuchs, is also here, a consummate professional at just 32 and currently ranked 6th. One of the top British riders, Scott Brash is here with us and the French riders, Simon Delestre, who is seventh on the Rankings and Penélope Leprevost, a three time Olympian.
The Tour is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Government of Andalucía, through Tourism and Sports of Andalucía. The Tour is a key element in the de-seasonalising of tourism throughout this area. This means many hotels, hostels, restaurants etc can open their doors earlier, and profitably extend their seasons. This has a very positive effect on the local area, with the generation of 1,400 direct and indirect jobs and the economic impact is calculated at some 60 millions euros.
Furthermore, this year is a very special edition of the Tour as we celebrate its 30th anniversary, and we are delighted that the Honorary Presidency of the Tour this year is his Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain. To celebrate that we have organised a diverse and entertaining program of complementary activities which includes the production of a documentary about the development of the Tour and an exhibition showing its evolution over these three decades. As well as this there is a special celebratory poster; sculptures, a new jump and some rather special trophies all designed by the Jerez artist who is based in Seville, Balcris.
As usual competition starts up tomorrow with the Young Horse classes, the five, six, seven and eight year olds. On Thursday, the first of six CSI4*s begins, with classes ranging across the board right up to 1.50m and running concurrently across seven arenas. Friday is equally busy and includes two FEI Longines Ranking classes. Saturday there is one Ranking class and the big finale on Sunday, has three Ranking classes, including the Grand Prix, an Olympic qualifier for Paris 2024 and for the Europeans 2025. A busy and exciting week of top competition.
It is a very intense calendar for aficionados of the sport, which you may enjoy at the showgrounds, where entry and parking are free, or you may watch the event through our web site, www.sunshinetour.net, the Andalucía Sunshine Tour App or online on Clip My Horse. If you do visit there is an extensive shopping area, and there are plenty of restaurants that cater to all tastes to make you day out complete, as you watch the best riders and horses in the world take to the arenas.
05/02/2024 by Sunshinetour News , Press releases
Te puede interesar
The Andalucía Sunshine Tour closes its 30th anniversary with great sporting success, participation a
SunshineTour, 25/03/2024
Jesús Garmendía and ‘Callias’, have a scorching win in the Invitational Grand Prix
SunshineTour, 24/03/2024
Álvaro González de Zarate wins the Dunas de Barbate Trophy with ‘Casa Diva PS’
SunshineTour, 23/03/2024
Portuguese win from Ricardo Gil Santos with ‘First Diamond AG’ in the Big Tour 1.45
SunshineTour, 22/03/2024
‘Quana Van Klapscheut’ and Olivier Philippaerts winner of the 8yr old Final
SunshineTour, 21/03/2024