The autumn-edition of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour 2017 finally kicks off this week in Oliva Nova, Spain.  

For the first time since its launch, the Autumn Tour will count a total of five weeks offering 258,700 Euro in prize money for the first part of the Autumn MET (3-15.10.2017) and 386,300 Euro for the second part (24.10-12.11.2017). There will be three Longines Ranking classes during each week of the Tour, giving the riders a total of nine chances to gather those valuable world ranking points.

There will be more than 30 nationalities lining up for the 2017-edition of Autumn MET, and the competition will be fierce with some of the best riders in the world attending. Two-time Olympians Pedro Veniss (BRA) and Katharina Offel (GER) are both on the riders list, as well as strong names such as Constant van Paaschen (BEL), Vincent Voorn (NED) and Danielle Goldstein (ISR) having confirmed their participation. Germany’s trusted national team members Janne Friederike-Meyer and Markus Beerbaum, the French master of speed Julien Epaillard and Great Britain’s ever so effective Ben Maher have also all chosen Oliva Nova as their autumn destination this year. 

“The Mediterranean Equestrian Tour has everything you could want from a tour,“ says Danielle Goldstein who made her MET-debut last autumn, going on from Oliva to continue outdoors at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida before she went on to have the strongest season so far in her career winning the Longines Global Champions Tour of Cascais as well as finishing 9th individually at the European Championships. “There are multiple rings and places to ride, a beautiful grass field, the beach of course as well as great weather and food. What more could anyone want?”

Pedro Veniss, winner of the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva last year, makes his debut at the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour. "I have heard only good things about the Tour in Oliva, so I chose to go there myself this year. I am bringing my young horses together with my older ones, and I really look forward to it – everybody seems to love the venue," Veniss says. 

Once again, Oliva Nova Equestrian Centre will give the horses, riders and grooms a home away from home during the five weeks of the Autumn Tour. With plenty of rings, modern stabling facilities as well as a variety in culinary experiences – all gathered in one practical complex with short distances everywhere, the venue is one of the most popular on the international showjumping circuit among the riders. With the beach a stone’s throw away, open for horses and riders six out of seven days a week, Oliva Nova is a dream come true for most with its warm and sunny climate that lasts well into the last weeks of November. 

“With this year’s edition of the Autumn MET we have made some adjustments in the program compared to last year, with the Tour split in two parts. This has been very well received by the riders, and we are proud to once again welcome some of the sport’s biggest names,” says MET Event Director Bettina Pöhls who together with her team looks forward to five weeks of world class competition.

Click in here for the full program for the Tour.

Source: Press release from Mediterranean Equestrian Tour // Pictures © Hervé Bonnaud / www.1clicphoto.com as well as Jenny Abrahamsson / www.worldofshowjumping.com.