2012 Olympic Champion and former world no. one Steve Guerdat (SUI) was the fastest in Friday's CSI4* 1.50m Big Tour Geolastic Trophy at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour 2022, riding the 11-year-old gelding Albführen's Maddox (Cohiba x Maraton). The Swiss team gold medallists from the Longines FEI European Championships 2021 outclassed their 51 other competitors with a clear round in 63.53 seconds in this Grand Prix qualifier, that also counted for the Longines Ranking. 

Sanne Thijssen (NED) came closest to Guerdat with her faithful 16-year-old stallion Con Quidam (Quinar Z x Cardino), stopping the clock at 64.49 seconds over the course designed by Italy’s Elio Travagliati in the stunning David Broome grass arena. Third place went to Kendra Claricia Brinkop (GER) on Malissa de Muze (Vigo D Arsouilles Stx x For Pleasure) in 65.57 seconds, while Alain Jufer (SUI) took the fourth place on Cornet MM (Cornet Obolensky x Gralshueter) and fifth went to Alexander Butler on Eindhoven G.H. (Vaillant x VDL Sheraton). 

It was a home win in the CSI4* 1.45m Medium Tour counting for the Longines Ranking as Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) and Engerupgaards Cezanne (Balou du Rouet x Lucky Light) crossed the finish line in phase two of the competition in 28.89, beating Gregory Wathelet (BEL) on Argentina de la Marchette (Acajou de la Marchette x Del Piero PB) by 0.3 seconds. Paris Sellon (USA) and Anna Jo (Acodetto x For Pleasure) took the third place with a time of 29.68 seconds.

Later in the day, it was Wathelet’s turn to take the top honours – in the CSI4* 1.45m Big Tour. Riding Chagall de Toscane (Norton d'Eole x Opium de Talma), Wathelet left Alvarez Aznar to second with Balasco de l'Abbaye (Ugano Sitte x Le Tot de Semilly) – with 0.48 seconds in between them. Third place went to Adam Prudent (USA) on Kellano Degli Assi (Kastello x Chellano Z).