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Great Day for Jesús Garmendia at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour
Vejer, February 12, 2026.
The Spanish national anthem rang out once again at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour thanks to Jesús Garmendia’s brilliant victory in the day’s top class. The Spanish rider also delivered standout performances in two other competitions, confirming his excellent form.
Jesús Garmendia claimed another win in the second week of the circuit, taking victory in the day’s feature event, the Big Tour 1.50m class, held in Arena 5. In an intense day featuring 13 classes across six arenas, the Arrayan Team rider posted the fastest time with Caramel Blue PS among the 23 combinations that completed the course fault-free.
Italy’s Massimo Grossato finished second with Legend, followed by Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat in third with C.H.C. Lilibert. Other Spanish riders also shone: host club rider Armando Trapote placed sixth with Matilda, while Pilar Cordón finished eleventh with Actiongrace PS.
Earlier, in the Medium Tour 1.45m class, also held in Arena 5, Garmendia once again placed among the leaders, finishing third with Callias. With over 100 entries, the competition was divided into two sections. The winners were Belgium’s Thibault Philippaerts with 1919 Fortiche van’t Zavaleinde Z and Germany’s Laura Hetzel with Angel D’Or.
In Arena 4 (Ratina), the Big Tour 1.30m and Medium Tour 1.35m classes were held. In the 1.30m class, experienced French rider Mathieu Billot claimed victory with Kaia, ahead of Carolina Villanueva and the veteran Voice de Chenaie.
The Medium Tour 1.35m class, which also featured more than 100 starters, was split into two divisions. The winners were Marta Hughes-Bravo with HHS Figaro and Gemma Stevens with Johan-Some.
Meanwhile, in the Deister Arena (No. 19), Dutch rider Britt van Erp posted the fastest time in the Big Tour 1.35m class with Vosje. Jesús Garmendia again delivered a strong performance, finishing sixth with Sandano 2.
The same arena hosted the Medium Tour 1.40m class, also divided into two sections due to the large number of participants. In Group 1, Germany’s Gerrit Nieberg won with Solaia, while Álvaro González de Zárate placed fourth with Stakkaldato PS. In Group 2, Czech rider Albert Pisarik took victory with Kyfo. Spain’s Julio Arias, with Conisha des Forest, and José Bono, with Alí Baba HT, finished second and third respectively.
The day concluded with the Medium Tour 1.30m class, which also had two winners: Germany’s Rafael Eden with Celebrity-H and France’s Alix Ragot with Jipsy.
Final Classes for 5-, 6-, and 7-Year-Old Horses
The day also featured the final classes for young horses aged 5, 6, and 7 in the second CSI for Young Horses at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour.
In the 6-year-old division, two classes were held. In the first, Uquila, a daughter of El Barone 111 Z ridden by Czech rider Jaroslav Sima, secured her fifth consecutive victory. In the second, Croenchen 3 (Conthargos x Casall), ridden by Karin Ernsting, claimed the win.
Among the 7-year-olds, the winners were Ever So Clever GM Z, a son of Emerald ridden by Jack Ryan — now with three consecutive victories — and Cargese Peguignon Z, ridden by Belgium’s Louis Lambrecht.
In the 5-year-old classes, held without a stopwatch, all combinations that completed the course without penalties shared first place.
Competition will continue tomorrow, Friday, with another action-packed day. The Andalucía Sunshine Tour, the longest-running circuit held in Spain, is sponsored by the Government of Andalusia — through the Ministry of Tourism and Andalusia Abroad — and the Provincial Council of Cádiz. This institutional support strengthens its international profile and its sporting, economic, and tourism impact on the region.
12/02/2026 by Sunshinetour News , Press releases
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