Emma Crawford lands the Royal Bliss 4* Small Grand Prix on the final week of the Andalucia Sunshine Tour as we report on this week’s Brits Abroad
Tuesday 25 March 2025
Emma Crawford raced to victory in the 4* Royal Bliss Small Grand Prix with Dukes of Hazzard on the Andalucia Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain.
“It’s a day that won’t be forgotten, Duke winning my first ever world ranking class on our final day on the Andalucia Tour,” said Emma. “Over the tour, he has been placed in four of the five ranking classes he has jumped – I really couldn’t have asked any more from him!”
Seventy-four competitors came forward over course-designer Raf Suarez’s 13-fence 1.45m track but only 11 found the key to advance into the jump-off. Scotland’s canny Emma found the shortest route to guide the Caretino x Clearway 13-year-old on to the top of the podium with 1.55 seconds in hand.
“He gives me his absolute best every time he enters the ring. I’ve never met a horse that loves jumping more than Duke. He’s the most perfect teammate I could have ever wished for, you ask him for a 100% effort and he gives you 200% back,” said Emma, who has produced Duke over the past eight years.
Sophie Evans galloped to the top of a 4* Medium Tour 1.45m speed with CSIO Bel, the Tinka’s Boy 13-year-old outpacing their 62 rivals with 1.18 seconds to spare.
William Whitaker had to settle for second place in the 4* Pavo Medium Tour Grand Prix with Millfield Quickstep. Nine of the original 46 starters negotiated the 13-fence, 16-effort 1.50m track clear to qualify for the jump-off, Will slipping the 10-year-old Quiwi Dream daughter into the runner-up spot by 1.19 seconds.
Ben Walker steered 12-year-old Creevy Pacino Cruise (Pacino x Cruising) into second in the 47-strong Fuze Tea Trophy 4* Small Tour 1.45m two-phase 0.09 seconds off the pace. Ben also topped a 4* 1.30m speed by 1.05 seconds on the Velini nine-year-old Kantini.
Miles O’Donnell slipped Jackpot DS into second in the 4* Small Tour 1.45m Grand Prix. Ten of the 34 starters accessed the jump-off, Miles and the 10-year-old gelding finishing only 0.15 seconds off the winning time. Josh Hutchins was also double clear for third on Kyrah.
Iwan Carpenter posted a double victory with Merllyn’s Chacco B, outpacing 58 rivals in a hotly contended 4* Small 1.40m speed and pushing fellow Brit Will Edwards on SHW Candies B into second place by 0.14 seconds. Iwan then turned his talents to the Range Rover Marbella Jump And Drive as the Chacco-Blue x Contendro I 15-year-old forged ahead with a 4.36 second advantage.
Chloe Aston jumped to the top in the 4* Medium Tour 1.40m two-phase with Flavie Van de Helle, the 14-year-old Carlow Van De Helle mare taking a 1.60 second win over their 25 rivals.
British riders picked up several wins in the supporting classes: Red Morgan doubled up with 4* Medium 1.30m wins on the Chacco-Blue 17-year-old True Blue III, Grace Gilbert on Bonnie and Taio Strevett aboard Harrop Grigio recorded 4* Classic 1.30m wins and Ellie Guy topped a 4* Small Tour 1.30m on Origi Van De Bandam. James Wilson continued with his winning form on the consistent Radjamerci Van De Blasbloemhoeve, adding another Eight-year-old 1.40m sped win to their tally on this tour, Ted Bastian-Mason won the Six-year-old Farewell 1.25m speed on Valencia CC and Daley Fisher jumped to the top in a Five-year-old 1.15m two-phase on Uranda J&L.
Robert Whitaker is half a second from victory in the Hermes Grand Prix with Vermento
Just half a second kept Robert Whitaker from claiming victory in the prestigious Hermes Grand Prix at Saut Hermes in Paris with Stephen and Caroline Blatchford’s Vermento.
Fifty riders came forward to face the 1.60m track but the course proved tough and challenging with 12 opting to retire and only nine finding the key to jump clear and advance into the jump-off.
Robert was in the mix with the 12-year-old Argento x Skippy 12 stallion and the pair posted another immaculate clear round, looking in contention. But they were just 0.49 second short, having to settle for second spot behind the winner, France’s Simon Delestre on Cayman Jolly Jumper.
James Smith secures another world ranking win in Oliva Nova
James Smith recorded another world ranking win to add to his tally on the MET Spring Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain, with Eagele Z.
Sixty-four competitors set off over the 13-fence track in the Gold 1.45m with 18 qualifying for a tense and exciting jump-off. Nonetheless, James remained cool, skilfully guiding the Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Ramiro Z 14-year-old into the top spot with 0.29 seconds to spare.
James also picked up second in an early 66-strong Gold 1.45m speed on the 10-year-old Dominican 2000 Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Casir Ask), two seconds behind the winner, Belgium’s Louis Lambrecht with Ona Van’t Veldeken. Sammie-Jo Coffin steered Cornet of Follyfoot into third.
Brits filled the top two places in the Bronze 1.40m Final with Joe Clayton leading the way on the 10-year-old Expenditure. The 46 starters were reduced to 14 for the jump-off, Joe swooping in to win by 2.10 seconds over Ruby Cooke and Fancy Girl Semilly.
In the supporting classes, Faye Adams headed a fast Gold 1.40m speed with long-term campaigner Demograaf; Chris Franks doubled up with a Gold 1.30m win on Whitney VD Berendskamp and topped a Silver 1.30m with Lex while Madison Heath with Ivory claimed a Gold 1.30m victory and Tom Harrison headed a Silver 1.25m on C’Icara Blue Z.
Brits also registered wins in the Young Horse Classes with Madison Heath on Ti Amore Van De Doornhaag and Izac Ketteridge aboard RSH Sweepstake taking Six-year-old wins and Lee Williams topped a Five-year-old 1.15m riding Leestone Emeresky.
Jess Mendoza is a winner at the World Equestrian Center in The USA.
Jess Mendoza topped the 2* Winning Round with Ascadina PP Z at the World Equestrian Centre in Ocala, USA.
Ten of the 29 starters over the 1.45m track returned for the second round, Jess and the Asca Z x Ginus nine-year-old mare – who was produced carefully in Britain by Max Routledge before her sale to the USA – smoothly outpacing the rest to win by 0.59 seconds.
Charlie Jones guided Montserrat OS into third in the Dutta Corporation 2* Grand Prix. Only seven from an entry of 40 supplied initial clears to contend the jump-off, Charlie and the Care For 12-year-old jumping the steadiest of the double clears to finish 2.33 seconds behind the winner, Germany’s Sophie Hinners on Viva Las Vegas W.
Image: MacKenzie Clark
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