The second week of the Portugal Spring Tour at Mata do Duque really highlighted the wonderful ground at the venue. The heavy rain during the week would have halted play at many venues, but the cross-country course here was able to run as normal. All the riders that we spoke to were more than impressed by the ground here.
All tracks were up to height, Both course designers, Lars Christensson and Konstantin Georgiev produced testing but fair tracks.
Event Director, Kiko Stilwell and President of the event, Augusto Taborda Calça E Pina, have worked tirelessly to make the event a success. On top of this they both found time to compete.
CCI4*-L and CCI4*S
Joaquim Grave with LET’S WIN (POR) and Manuel Grave WITH CARAT DE BREMOY (POR) . Photo: Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
Brothers Manuel and Joaquim Grave swept the boards in the two 4-star sections at Mata do Duque, with Manuel winning the CCI4*-L with his Paris Olympics horse CARAT DE BREMOY and Joaquim taking the victory in the CCI4*S with his last year’s CCI3*S winner, the aptly named LET’S WIN.
Alyssa Yallop with QATAR VD HEFFINCK (GBR) © Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
In the CCI4*S , Alyssa Yallop with QATAR VD HEFFINCK (GBR) moved up to second place after the showjumping on Sunday, with Lissa Green with GO ON BIATS (AUS) taking third.
Lissa Green with GO ON BIATS (AUS) © Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
CCI3*L
Emma Schonvandt Alarcos with QREAM Z (ESP) © Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
Albert Hermoso Farras with VOLNAY DE LA TRIBALLE (ESP)
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
CCI3*S
Felipe Llorente Algarra with POSTMAN (ESP) © Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
The win in the CCI3*S also went to Spain with Felipe Llorente Algarra and the grey stallion POSTMAN, taking the top slot after the only clear round in the showjumping. Belgium’s Kris Vervaecke with ROLLO VAN ALSINGEN took second and Anna Hildebrand with KADINSKY DE MARETUS took third for Sweden.
CCI2*L
Albert Hermoso Farras with HAZEL IV (ESP)© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
It was a close finish in the CCI3*L , with only 1.5 penalties between the top three, Spain’s Albert Hermoso Farras took the two top slots with HAZEL IV taking first and COCA AA 24.37 taking second. Stijn Jonkers took the next two places with LIBERTHO-H in third and DSL COOLA BOOLA in fourth.
Stijn Jonkers with LIBERTHO-H (NED) © Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
CCI1*-Intro
Catherine Burrell with GREAT GATSBY M. (AUS) © Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
Catherine Burrell with GREAT GATSBY M. (AUS) won the CCI1*-Intro for the second time in the Spring Tour. Miguel Gutierrez Moreno with MIYABI (ESP) took second and Jodie Lazell with MALAGUETA (POR) took third.
