William Whitaker claims the CSI4* (LR) Fuze Tea Trophy

Vejer de la Frontera, 20th of March

The Andalucía Sunshine Tour 2026 is entering its final stretch, with the last days of jumping and dressage competition underway. Following today’s CSIYH final for 8-year-old horses, the curtain will come down this Sunday with the most important class of the CSI4* Winter Tour: the 1.55m Invitational Grand Prix – Diputación de Cádiz Trophy. Qualification is open to the top 15 riders from the last two Grand Prix of Weeks 5 and 6, as well as the top 10 from the Big Tour 1.50, and the rest from today’s LR class until the 50 available spots are filled.

In dressage, the CDI3* has already featured the Grand Prix – KAR Sporthorses Trophy, the Grand Prix Special, and the RFHE National League Grand Prix KAR, alongside the RFHE National League Young Horses – KIWOKO. Tomorrow will bring the Grand Prix Kür and the finals for 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old horses.

CSI4* 1.50m – FUZE TEA Trophy (LR)

One of the highlights of the week came with the CSI4* 1.50m Fuze Tea Trophy, the main class of the day.

Victory went to Great Britain’s William Whitaker with “Millfield Quickstep”, the fastest in a very tight competition. Fellow Brit Tim Gredley finished second with “Vuitton of Picobello Z”, while Germany’s Laura Klaphake completed the podium with “VDL Quiranov van’t Merelsnest”.

The best Spanish rider was Alberto Márquez Galobardes, fourth with “Kelly”, delivering a clear round and staying in contention for the podium until the end. Norway’s Pål Flam finished fifth with “Evoila KVG Z”, followed by Ireland’s Niamh McEvoy in sixth with “BP Rocket Man”, in a very close class where the top four finished clear.

Among the Spanish riders, Carlos Lange Fraile placed tenth with “Khadiri” (2 penalties), and Luis Fernández Gil Fournier was eleventh with “Prio YM” (3 penalties), in one of the most technically demanding classes of the week, designed by course designer Rafael Suárez and his team.

CSI4* 1.45m – Royal Bliss Trophy

The CSI4* 1.45m Royal Bliss Trophy was decided in two phases, with extremely close times among the leading riders.

Great Britain’s Guy Williams took the win with “BH Gringos Legacy”, the fastest in phase two. Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha finished second, while Sweden’s Adam Carey secured third place with “Julius”.

The best Spanish result came from Jesús Garmendia Echevarria, seventh with “Sandano 2”, producing a double clear performance in a very competitive class.

Also delivering clear rounds were Pilar Lucrecia Cordon, twelfth with “Pica Pica Z”, and Luis Fernández Gil Fournier, fourteenth with “Ordesa”, among a large group of combinations finishing on zero in both phases.

CSI4* 1.40m – Big Tour

The CSI4* 1.40m Big Tour was decided against the clock in a fast and open class, with Alberto Márquez standing out once again among the Spanish riders.

Germany’s Harm Lahde claimed victory with “Can Hope”, the only rider to post the fastest clear round. Spain’s Kevin González de Zárate was second with “Jay Z Z”, also clear, while Great Britain’s Tim Gredley finished third with “Medoc de Toxandria”.

Alberto Márquez Galobardes placed fourth with “Sky Is the Limit” (1 penalty), just outside the podium in a very tight classification. Xavier Cebriá Soriano (10th with “Ian”) and Luis Fernández Gil Fournier (11th with “Ibon”), both on 4 penalties, also delivered solid performances.

CSI-YH Final – 8-year-old horses

The day concluded with the CSI-YH Final for 8-year-old horses, held over 1.45m with a jump-off, once again showcasing a high level of competition.

Ireland’s Michael Pender took the win with “HHS Flonix”, the fastest in the jump-off. Richard Howley finished second with “HK Stakkata”, while Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts secured third with “Maceo du Chapitre”.

Germany’s Enno Klaphake (fourth with “Oki Doki 15”) and Ireland’s Conor Drain (fifth with “Nadim van de Kruishorst”) completed a top five entirely clear in the jump-off, underlining the quality of the final.

There were no Spanish riders among the leading positions in this particularly demanding class.

Thursday, March 19

Thursday’s main CSI4* 1.50m class, the Barbate City Council Trophy, saw a strong Spanish performance.

Armando Trapote took the win with “Bella PS”, followed by Álvaro González de Zárate with “Arezzo de Llamosas”, while Julio Arias Cueva completed the podium with “Filou du Manoir”, all three finishing clear in a very tight contest.

Trapote was the best Spanish rider, supported by a strong national group including Jesús Garmendia Echevarria (6th with “Callias”) and Kevin González de Zárate (7th with “Chinixen”), both clear. Other Spanish riders such as Luis Ortiz Agüera, Iván Serrano Sáez and Joel Valles Rosell also delivered competitive clear rounds.

There was also Spanish presence in the 1.45m Big Tour, where Armando Trapote finished third with “Karl P”. The win went to the Netherlands’ Rogier Linssen with “Jagcina”.

In the 1.40m Big Tour, Kevin González de Zárate placed second with “Jay Z Z”, followed by Alberto Márquez Galobardes in fourth with “Sky Is the Limit”. Márquez also secured another second place in the 1.40m Medium Tour with “Mac”, while his brother Álvaro González de Zárate was third with “Andy Star K Z”.

In the Medium Tour, Guillermo González finished second in the 1.35m with “Double R Dolly”, while Amaia Ucelay Iturriza also placed second in the 1.30m with “Diamand du Breche”, ahead of Celia Cobo Terán, third with “Etincelle de Saint’a”. In the Small Tour 1.40m, Alonso Elena Vázquez Arrojo was fourth with “Aktion Nur Z”.

Dressage – CDI

RFHE National League Grand Prix – KAR Sporthorses

José Antonio García Mena dominated the RFHE National League Grand Prix – KAR Sporthorses, winning with “Quatre-Quarts L’Orange” on a total of 143.935 points, with averages above 71% in both tests.

Alejandro Sánchez del Barco was second with “Onuba TR” (137.749), while Nuria Vila Pérez completed the podium with “Vencedor JLE” (132.266). Carmen Gutiérrez Cruz finished fourth with “North Tottem”, followed by Antonio José Vázquez Quintero in fifth with “Quappuccino van de Nethe”.

RFHE National League Young Horses – KIWOKO

José Antonio García Mena also won the young horses class with “Van Gogh” (72.382%).

Javier Higuera Carmona finished second with “Bombastic” (65.265%), followed by Andrea Ruiz Junco in third with “Deinhardt M” (64.853%). Rafael Heredia Muñoz placed fourth with “Fabio Castello SN” (63.118%).

KAR Grand Prix – Dressage

The KAR Grand Prix was won by José Antonio García Mena with “Quatre-Quarts L’Orange” (71.978%).

Portugal’s João Miguel Torrao finished second with “Lirio MVL” (69.000%), while Rita Raloa Duarte was third with “Irao” (68.283%).

The next best Spanish rider was Alejandro Sánchez del Barco, fourth with “Onuba TR” (68.196%), followed by Antonio José Vázquez Quintero in fifth with “Tormento FSR III” (65.978%).

Dressage will conclude tomorrow with the Grand Prix Kür and the final classes for 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old horses.

The event receives institutional support from the Junta de Andalucía — through the Regional Ministry of Tourism and Andalucía Exterior — and the Provincial Council of Cádiz.

FULL RESULTS

Jumping:
https://www.sunshinetour.net/resultados/xxxii-andalucia-sunshine-tour-2026/48606738

Dressage:

https://online.equipe.com/shows/76335