Press release Sunshine Tour – A new and busy week of competitions began today with the 2nd week of the Sunshine Tour swinging into action. There were almost 450 young horses competing in the warm spring sunshine, with classes repeated both tomorrow and on Thursday. Many of the top riders were out exercising their horses in the sunshine today and one top Spanish rider was seen to comment that despite there being well over 1000 horses around and about, there was still plenty of space to work quietly in the training arenas.
In the 7yr old class there were 154 entries making the most of the jumping in the grass arena, Hickstead. 76 had clear rounds and added another qualifying zero to their totals towards the 7 needed to be eligible for the final on the 16th March
The biggest class was the 6yr olds with 164 competitors jumping in arena 9, Guarana Champeix, 105 had double clears and can also add these to their final tally.
112 competitors participated in the 5yr old class in arena 11, Shutterfly, with 60 adding clears to their final tally.
This week has begun well, all the stables are now full and there are over 300 big lorries and trailers in the parking area. 25 shops are up and running with a great variety of products from everyday things for horse and rider to fashion, beauty and health products and services. There are 4 restaurants and a wonderful ice cream stand! These services are available not only to the competitors and grooms and their teams but also to the public who are very welcome to enter the showground totally free and enjoy the whole experience of the Sunshine Tour.
The Tour greatly boosts work in this area at this time of the year, directly employing 400 people and indirectly over 1,200. The local hotels and restaurants are full of ‘Tour’ people and there is a great boost to the area from Chiclana, Vejer, Barbate, Conil all the way down to Zahara de los Atunes, where many businesses open early to cater for the visitors the Tour brings in.
Source: Press release Sunshine Tour
