Edited press release from Andalucia Sunshine Tour
Enrique Camiruaga Rueda (ESP) and the 11-year-old Vintage (Verdi TN x Acodetto I) won Sunday's CSI4* Invitational 1.55-1.60m Longines Grand Prix at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, with the only clear round of the class.
“A lifelong dream," was the way that Camiruaga Rueda described his victory. Riding a carefully crafted clear round over the course designed by Uliano Vezzani, Camiruaga Rueda took to the top of the podium as the only rider who did not make a mistake in this final Grand Prix of the tour that concluded today after seven weeks of competition.
“It was a course without a breather," Camiruaga Rueda said. "It was a very beautiful course, but very technical and asked that both rider and horse gave it their complete concentration and best effort. The horse did an excellent job, and I am really satisfied and extremely proud of him, but the most wonderful part of this win was how the crowd reacted and was so happy for me”.
It was double Spanish on top as Santiago Núñez Riva (ESP) and Valentino de Hus Z (Vivaldi du Seigneur x Trophee du Rozel) finished second, after recording four faults. James Wilson (GBR) took the third place with Imagine de Muze (Nabab de Reve x Chin Chin), his compatriot Holly Smith (GBR) finished fourth on Fruselli (Zambesi TN x Karandasj) and Marie Longem (NOR) fifth on Echo de Virton (Vagabond de la Pomme x Grignoteur de la Fontainte) – all on four faults.
In the CSI4* 1.50m Medium Tour Grand Prix, also counting for the world ranking, Pedro Veniss (BRA) and Böckkmann's Lord Pezi Junior (Böckmann’s Lord Pezi x Quattro 7) took the win. Twelve of the 75 riders in the class moved on to the jump-off, where Veniss stopped the clock in 39.97 seconds. Laura Klaphake (GER) and Davenport VDL (Diamant de Semilly x Indoctro) followed in runner-up position with at time of 40.26 seconds, while Eduardo Álvarez Aznar (ESP) and Full Option Van’t Zand (Flamingo K x Lord Z) took third, Karl Robins (GBR) with Equine America G Camille HBF (VDL Zirocco Blue x San Patrignano Cassini) fourth and Tom Martens (NED) with Iwan (Glasgow vh Merelsnes x Wolfgang) fifth.