The Spanish anthem plays again at the Autumn MET as Sergio Alvarez Moya wins the CSI2* Grand Prix

Last Sunday, Spain’s Mariano Martinez Bastida went off with the Grand Prix victory at
2020-autumn edition of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain – today it was his compatriot Sergio Alvarez Moya’s turn to succeed. Aboard Valdocco des Caps (Number One d’Iso x Quidam de Revel), Alvarez Moya left his competitors with no chance in this CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix presented by the Stephex Group. “It’s always nice to win, I don’t care where!” Alvarez Moya laughed about his home-soil win.
In beautiful autumn weather, the stage was set for another exciting Grand Prix at the Autumn MET 2020. Operating under strict Covid-19 guidelines and protocols, the tour is run without spectators but judged by the last weeks of competition the lack of audience has not at all dampened the spirit of the riders as every class in Oliva Nova has been extremely fast. Sunday’s Grand Prix – that also counted for the world ranking – proved to be no exception. With 16 of the 82 horse-and-rider combinations in the Grand Prix qualifying for the jump-off after clearing Gregory Bodo’s (FRA) first-round track – including speed merchants Harold Boisset (FRA), Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Jerome Guery (BEL) – it was yet again bound to be a race against the clock.
The first clear round in the jump-off came from Ioli Mytilineou (GRE) and La Perla vd Heffick (Cooper vd Heffinck x Contact vd Heffinck), that stayed in the lead for quite a while with their time of 40.37 seconds. Moving into the second half of the jump-off, Elisa Strubbe (BEL) and Mr. Quality Z (Mr. Blue x Casall) brough the time to beat down to 39.84 seconds – which was quickly bettered by Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Usual Suspect d’Auge (Jarnac x Papillon Rouge) who blazed around to a time of 34.59 seconds. It looked like it would be hard to beat Epaillard, who – as usual – has notched up one win after the other in Oliva Nova. As next to go, Lieven Devos (BEL) and Inca’s Big Think (Beaulieu’s Think Big x Lanciano) delivered another clear – but the pair was not fast enough to pass Epaillard and slotted in behind the French rider in 38.09 seconds.

Photo © Hervé Bonnaud / www.1clicphoto.com.