Vejer de La Frontera, Spain – March 12, 2023 – As usual during weeks featuring CSI 4* classes, super Sunday featured no less than three grands prix at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour CSI 4*, sponsored by La Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte and co-financed by the European Union. One of the most exciting was the €28,840 Medium Tour Grand Prix CSI 4*, held in the Hickstead arena. This challenging class was contested by 73 riders but in the end, the winners were Kara Chad (CAN) and Igor GPH (Harley x Crawford 5).
The Canadian and the 10-year-old bay Royal Dutch Sport Horse / Dutch Warmblood made the most of going later on in the jump-off with a really forward ridden super fast clear, leaving all the poles up before crossing the finish line in in 40.05 seconds.
German rider, Kendra Claricia Brinkop (GER) was second with Ma Belle (Ugano Sitte x Bayard d’Elle), the only difference being their final time of 40.94 seconds.
Michael Hughes (USA) earned another podium finish, this time aboard Melodie-K Van’t Kattenheye (Cornet Obolensky x Kannan). The duo completed their second fault-free performance in 41.25 seconds for bronze honors.
In a quick interview Kara told the organizers of the event after her super win: “I couldn’t be happier with my horse Igor. It’s our first time doing the Medium Tour Grand Prix so it was a good result. It was definitely a tough enough course, there was only six in the jump off I think, but ‘Igor’ took it on like an absolute champ and I’m very lucky to ride him.”
Final Results – €28,840 Medium Tour Grand Prix CSI 4*
1) Kara Chad (CAN) & Igor GPH – 0 / 0 – 40.05
2) Kendra Claricia Brinkop (GER) & Ma Belle – 0 / 0 – 40.94
3) Michael Hughes (USA) & Melodie-K Van’t Kattenheye – 0 / 0 – 41.25
Source Press Release (edited) from Andalucía Sunshine Tour
Photos: © Andalucía Sunshine Tour
Categories: CSI 4*, English, Jumper News Canada
