World famous Swiss rider, Steve Guerdat wins the Geolastic Trophy with ‘Albfuehren’s Maddox’

Dutch rider Sanne Thijssen is second with ‘Con Quidam RB’ and German rider Kendra Brinkop is third with ‘Malissa de Muze’

Currently ranked 20th in world,  the amazing Swiss rider Steve Guerdat,  jumped an absolutely perfect masterclass round today which was pure joy to watch.  With 5 Olympics in his belt and the crowning glory, an Individual Gold medal in London, plus three World Equestrian games, it is clear that this rider has absolutely nothing to prove.  Today he added to this by winning the Longines Ranking class and the prestigious Geolastic Trophy.  This company is a specialist in the construction and maintenance of equestrian arenas.  

His partner at the top of the podium today was the bay stallion ‘Albfuehren’s Maddox’, who is by Cohiba 1198 (Chacco Blue), dam sire Maraton.  They stopped the clock in  63.53s around the course designed by the Italian Elio Travagliati.  Steve received the Geolastic Trophy from Guillermo González Eguinoa, who is the director of Geolastic.  Steve told us that he was very satisfied with his result today and the course design; he also commented that he was impressed with the arena surfaces here at the tour. 

Just under a second behind Steve was young Dutch rider Sanne Thijssen, who had a very smart round on the stallion owned by Stal Thijssen ‘Con Quidam RB’.  Just over a second behind Sanne, was the German rider Kendra Brinkop riding the mare, ‘Malissa de Muze’.  Another Swiss rider, Alain Jufer with ‘Cornet MM’ was fourth, followed by the Irish rider, Alexander Butler with ‘Eidhoven GH’.

Eduardo Álvarez Aznar, the only Spanish show jumper representing Spain in the Tokyo Olympics, also showed his class again today after a brilliant set of results yesterday.  Not satisfied with 8th place in the Geolastic Trophy class with ‘Bentley de Sury’, he went on to win the 1.45m Medium Tour Ranking class, with the stallion ‘Engerupgaards Cezanne’, who is by Balou du Rouet.  In this 2 phase class he was clear in the second phase in just 28.89s beating off a serious challenge from the brilliant Belgian rider, Gregory Wathelet.  Gregory was riding ‘Argentina de la Marchette’, a mare owned by the rider and they stopped the clock in just 29.19s.  In third was one of our previous big class winning combinations here at the Tour, the American rider, Paris Sellon and the lovely mare from Willow Grace Farms, ‘Anna Jo’.  Fourth, was another Belgian rider regularly on the podium, Gudrun Patteet with ‘Sea Coast Monalisa Van’t Paradijs’.  Richard Howley (IRL) took fifth place with ‘Fame’ who is owned by Sarah Borthwick.

In the Big Tour 1.45m class the top two on the podium above swapped places!  Gregory Wathelet was riding another stallion, this time ’Chagall de Toscane’ and Edu Álvarez Aznar was riding  ‘Balasco de L’Abbaye’, their times were 26.99s to 27.47s reps.  Adam Prudent from the USA was third with ‘Kellano Degli Assi’.

The 1.40m Medium Tour was split into two sections.  Winners were Penélope Leprevost (FRA) another top 50 Ranked rider,  with the mare ‘Deesse de Coquerie’ and Irish rider Adam Morgan with a horse that is no stranger to the arenas here, ‘Warriors Glory’.  In second were Kendra Brinkop who had another great success with ‘Eclatant’ and Konstantin E. Van Damme (BUL) with Aconda 27.  Kendra also took third with ‘Do it Easy’ as did the Belgian rider, Aiko Paridaen with ‘Libelle du Muze’.

The 1.35m Big Tour was also split into two, winners were Alain Jufer (SUI) with ‘Golden Future MM’ and Patricia Segura (ESP) with ‘Valseuse de Terlong’.  Second were Nicolas Bost (FRA) with ‘Django des Baleines’ and Anna Skärberg with ‘Gravinissa SW’.  Kendra took third with ‘Etania VA’ as did Swiss rider Noah Keller with ‘Clint of Hera’. 

These are just a few of the results from this busy day of jumping here at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour, with more than 1,000 horses taking to the arenas.  Full results from all classes may be found through both our website and app.  Jumping starts at 09:00 tomorrow, Saturday, and among the 12 classes held during the day there will be the Small Tour Grand Prix class, which is a Longines Ranking class and will be held on grass in the beautiful Hickstead arena.  The Suzuki Jump&Drive class will inaugurate the new covered arena at 18:00 and will be great fun to watch, as riders negotiate a course of jumps set at 1.10m and then race around an obstacle course in a Suzuki.  Spectators will also be treated to free beers from Cervezas Victoria.