Show Jumping: not only results

Next weekend will be characterised by a vast array of three and four star competitions spread out across the world with the season now in full flight. Every now and again HSJ.TV intends to give its readers more information than a rundown of results which can be found in all sites tied to the various events. Today our focus falls on the CSI4* at Vilamoura in Portugal, the last stage of the Portugal Equestrian Tour, keenly desired by ‘Tourismo de Portugal’. Although the Portuguese Tourist Board has never sponsored the event, it was the bringer of the idea to push and guide public attention towards Vilamoura to allow the place to flourish from the increased flow of tourists generated by horse sports. Five stages make up the Portuguese Tour, the opening event is the Lisbon CSIO, followed by Vimeiro, Ponte de Lima, Portimao and lastly the Vilamoura CSI4*.  The last competition carries the name Lusort Algraves, which sponsors the event to the tune of 165 thousand euro. Lusort is a construction firm which owns practically more than 50% of the Algarve coast. It includes the Cordoban Group PRASA and the PROCAM (the real estate branch of the Caixa da Catalunha group).
The contest starts on Thursday, the start list is pending, at the Portuguese circuit which witnessed the winning ride by Frenchman Nicolas Delmotte last year, followed by Robert Whitaker and Michel Ecart L.G. – HSJ