Vejer de la Frontera, Spain – Thursday, February 27 – It was a perfect day for the first  of the XXVI Sunshine Tour CSI 4* today, with plenty of sun and an electric atmosphere as around 1000 combinations took to the arenas. Dermott Lennon (IRL) riding “MJM Pursuit” really demonstrated their talents, beating off 109 competitors, 47 of whom went clear in this 1.50m speed class.

The ‘time allowed’ was 73 seconds but Dermott and the 11-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse mare left everyone speechless as he stopped the clock in a mere 58.74 seconds. Dermott knows his mare really well and is very familiar with the arena here at the Tour as last year they were the winners of a Grand Prix MT CSI 3*. They have also been placed in various  5* events including those in Calgary “I am very happy with the way the mare is jumping. I hope that we can do well this weekend in the Grand Prix class, that’s my objective for this week”. No one would be surprised if this experienced Irish rider was to be placed in the Grand Prix, he has already succeeded at the top of his field winning both the European Team Championship in 2001 and also the Jerez, World Equestrian Games in 2002.

Julie Welles (USA) also had a really excellent day taking second place with the talented mare “Ambra”, who has passed through the stables of both Michael Whitaker and Luca Moneta. The American and the 11-year-old bay Italian Sport Horse mare (Quintender x Grandeur) stopped the timers in 59.83 seconds for the victory.

Andreas Schou (DEN) was third in the class with Quadrossom Ask (Quadros 3 x Carentan), crossing the finish line in 60.63 seconds.

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release from Oxersport

Photo: © Oxersport / Moises Basallote Fotografia