Spain takes 3 of the 4 top slots at Mata Do Duque

The 2025 season kicked off at Mata do Duque in Portugal. The first of the two events making up the Portugal Spring Tour, concluded on Sunday, with Spain taking three of the four top placings.

Carlos Diaz Fernandez riding OTTAWA DES DESIG (ESP) led the CCI4*-S from start to finish. In the CCI3*-S Francisco Gaviño Gonzalez with ULTRASOURCE DEL CERRO 35 (ESP) took the win, with less than one penalty in hand over Belgium Kris Vervaecke riding QUESTO VAN ALSINGEN taking second place, and in third was last year’s CCI3*S winner Joaquim Grave with LET’S WIN (POR) in their first run at four star level. Spain’s Albert Hermoso Farras took the two top slots in the CCI2*-S with HAZEL IV taking first and COCA AA 24.37 taking second. Catherine Burrell riding GREAT GATSBY M. (AUS) took the victory in the CCI1* Intro

Course designers Lars Christensson and Konstantin Georgiev produced lovely flowing courses, and it was also lovely to see so many new fences this year. The cross country course wends through the picturesque ancient woodlands of pine and cork trees. The surface is mainly sand, so suitable in all weather. All riders that we spoke to were full of praise for the ground conditions.

The dressage and showjumping are held on grass arenas.

The second event of the Spring Tour will run from the 6th-9th March, and entries are still open. (CCI4*S, CCI4*L, CCI3*S, CCI3*L, CCI2*L, CCI1*S)