Staged in the Algarve marina town from 24 September to 18 October, this year’s Vilamoura Champions Tour saw some 900 horses and 300 riders from 30 countries compete for the €490,000 prize money.
The size and scale of the event has now firmly placed Vilamoura on the map as a point of reference at the highest level of equestrian sports, prompting its organisers to say this year’s edition “exceeded all expectations.”
António Moura, head of the Champions Tour organisation, summarised the past four weeks of show jumping in Vilamoura as “the best equestrian show ever in Portugal”, adding that “From a European point of view, no doubt that today we are number one.”
He further revealed that, “at a European level, all business records ever, in a tour of this kind, have been greatly exceeded”.
In a statement Moura said the challenge now is “to maintain and enhance” the quality of the Vilamoura Atlantic Tour and the Vilamoura Champions Tour as well as increasing their prize money.
He stressed the fact that the two events are held in different seasons and, regarding the skills of the riders, also highlighted that each show has different participants.
In addition to the competitive aspects, this event helps to promote horses and riders as well as the trading of horses.
Winners of the main competitions, including the Grand Prix and the Ladies ‘World Trophy’ were Laura Kraut (America), Adeline Hecart (France) and Laura Renwick and Kayleigh Watts (England).
With prize money of €490,000, the event included two ‘2 Stars Grand Prix’ and two ‘3 Stars Grand Prix’.
Two of the most emblematic competitions of the Vilamoura Champions Tour were won on Sunday by two female riders whose performances left no room for doubts among the assistance and the jury.
French rider Adeline Hecart won the 3* CSI Grand Prix, sponsored by the Loulé Town Hall, being the only rider to complete the course without any faults and within the time limit, on her horse Pasha Du Gue.
British rider Kayleigh Watts, on Winde, won the women’s ‘Ladies World Trophy’.
Among the internationally-renowned riders at the event were Irish riders Bertram Allen (no. 5 in the world ranking) and Darragh Kenny; Briton Nick Skelton (2012 Olympic Gold Medal), Belgian Gregory Whatelet (currently Europe’s vice-Champion), Briton Laura Renwick and American Laura Kraut.
The international equestrian show Vilamoura Champions Tour 2015 was sponsored by Caixa de Crédito Agrícola, Inframoura, Turismo de Portugal/Algarve, Câmara Municipal de Loulé and Microprocessador.
The organisation is now preparing for the Vilamoura Atlantic Tour 2016 which will be held between 16 February and 3 April, for which registrations are now open.