The Andalucía Sunshine Tour closes its 30th anniversary with great sporting success, participation a

55,000 spectators visited the Dehesa Montenmedio during this special edition of the Tour, with the Honorary President, His Highness King Felipe VI, and with six, Paris Olympic Games 2024 Grand Prix qualifiers

The very special edition of the Andalucía Sunshine Tour, commemorating its 30th anniversary, has finally drawn to close and with great success in both the quality and numbers of the competitors attending, and also the number of spectators. This year the Honorary President of the Tour was His Highness the King of Spain, Rey Felipe VI.  There was also a wide range of extra celebrations for the anniversary that ran parallel to the event here at Dehesa Montenmedio.  In all the Tour spanned from the 18th of January to the 24th of March, with nine weeks of showjumping at the highest international level.

During this time here in Vejer de la Frontera, 55,000 spectators have visited to watch 1,100 riders compete with 3,500 horses, from 57 countries around the world.  2.5 millions of euros has been given out in prize-money across more than 550 classes,  including six, CSI4* Grand Prix classes that were qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic games and also the 2025 Europeans.  There was a record number of riders taking to the arenas and on the 15th of February; 1,229 horses jumped across six arenas running concurrently.

Spain was the country with the most riders participating in the Tour, some 32%., following on was Great Britain with 14% and Ireland took third place with 7%.  Other notable countries participating were; the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Morocco with between 4 and 5% in total.

The Andalucía Sunshine Tour, is kindly sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Government of Andalucía, through Tourism and Sports of Andalucía and is co-financed by the European Union and has been since 1995.  The Tour has once again exceeded expectations with the participation of the very best riders in the world,  who are at the top of the FEI Longings Ranking lists. Riders such as;  Swiss, Steve Guerdat;  Austrian, Max Kuhner;  Irish, Bertram Allen;  Belgian, Gregory Wathelet;  British, Scott Brash;  Spanish, Eduardo Álvarez Aznar;  French, Penélope Leprevost and Swedish, Petronella Andersson.  Many riders who will participate in this years Olympic Games were here at the Montenmedio Installations, to start off their outdoor seasons, including the  Spanish team, after an absence at the Olympics of 16 years.

As well as having His Highness the King of Spain, Rey Felipe VI as the Honorary President of the Tour, another very special feature of this 30th edition was the work of the Jerez artist, Balcris,, who designed the posters and some of the trophies.  There was also a retrospective, photographic exhibition, spanning the 30 years across the evolution of the facilities.  In addition there was a historical documentary, directed by Manuel Correa and produced by Rebellious Words Cine, which was premiered in an emotional event, at the lovely, Teatro San Francisco de Vejer de la Frontera.

The Tour also offers other incentives to participants and visitors includeing the wonderful outdoor environment here, a privileged climate, delicious cuisine and the option to visit various tourist sites in the La Janda Region.  Thanks to the plethora of extra things to do, more than 55,000 spectators have come to the Tour here at Dehesa Montenmedio, 14,000 were accredited and there were 26,000 overnight stays.  All this boosts out of seasonal tourism, creating a positive effect in the local area with important economic returns in the province of more than 60 million euros and with 1,400 jobs created.

The director of the Andalucía Sunshine Tour, Teresa Blázquez, has expressed her satisfaction with the completion of;   “a very special edition for everyone;  it signifies the consolidation, growth, and the achievement of a dream that one day, 30 years ago, my parents had, and a dream that has come true thanks to their efforts and commitment.”  For Teresa Blázquez,  “the sporting level here has been very high, as it always is, or maybe even a little higher,  as we are in an Olympic year.  But our greatest satisfaction is seeing how the riders from all over the world praise both the facilities and the atmosphere of the Tour.  These two features of the Tour,  without a doubt make it so special and unique.”

Teresa Blázquez also wanted to thank the collaboration and support of all of the sponsors, to mention a few;  the Junta de Andalucía, the Provincial Council of Cádiz, the municipalities of Vejer and Barbate, Longines, Equine America, Stephex, Dunas de Barbate, Royal Bliss, Clipmyhorse.tv, Bodegas Torres, Ashford Farm, Engels & Völkers, Sergio Grasso, Geolastic, Hipotels, Barceló Conil Playa, Pavo, Catunambú and WKD and added;  “thanks to your support we can hold the Andalucía Sunshine Tour and have reached the anniversary of our first 30 years of life, which we are so excited to celebrate.”