![\"\"](\"https:\/\/metoliva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/fa7ee42c-8df6-4c7f-9206-73e575dbf53b.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe 2020 autumn-edition of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain, concluded on Sunday with the CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix presented by Oliva Nova Beach &\u00a0Golf Resort.<\/p>\n
Staged in the beautiful Oliva Nova sand ring, a total of 83 horse-and-rider combination lined up for the Grand Prix. The challenging first-round track set by the Portuguese course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral proved tricky, with ten pairs clearing their way into the deciding jump-off. \u201cIt was a brilliant course,\u201d the winner Richard\u00a0Howley commented afterwards. \u201cI thought it was very well built today: It was big enough with a couple of tricky distances. Especially the distance to the triple combination \u2013 from the triple bar with a floaty seven strides coming into a double of verticals on two strides then one stride to an oxer followed by another short five strides to an oxer. It rode a little bit shorter than it walked, and I think that was the main line that caught most of the class out. Thankfully for me, my horse jumps combinations very well and he is very careful. He really wrapped his body around the jump, I am delighted with the way he jumped today.\u201d<\/p>\n
As first to go in the jump-off, Marc Bettinger (GER) on the spectacular Undercover Z (Ugano Sitte x Heartbreaker) went all out \u2013 setting the time to beat to 39.45 seconds. His lead did not last long though: Richard Howley (IRL) on Arlo de Blondel (Tialoc M x Kassidi) cut corners with unbelievably smooth turns and a daring gallop on the last line \u2013 stopping the clock\u00a0on 35.58. Howley risked it all, and today it paid off: None of the following pairs could beat his time. John Whitaker (GBR) on Unick du Francport (Zandor x Helios de la Court II) slotted into second place with a time of 37.47, while Koen Vereecke (BEL) on Kasanova de la Pomme (Bamako de Muze x Haras D) crossed the finish line in 37.66 seconds to finish third \u2013 pushing Bettinger to fourth. Edwin Smits (SUI) and Farezzo (Arezzo VDL x Van Gogh) \u2013 last weekend\u2019s Grand Prix winners \u2013 did another solid round but had to settle for the fifth place today.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNormally my horse is very fast, so I jumped on the angle and tried to stay as tight as I could,\u201d Howley commented on his tactics for the jump-off. \u201cThe distance down to fence number three was eight strides. A few people did seven, but it pushed them out on the left side. I did outside eight and rolled back tight on the next vertical. I gave my horse a bit time to jump the double, that was a difficult fence in the jump-off. My horse is super careful, so I could take a little bit of risk on the second last vertical and then continued with a nice gallop to the last. My horse is really good when he goes fast: He still finishes his jumps, so you can take a risk with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking about his winning partner Arlo de Blondel, a 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Howley said: \u201cHe is a fantastic horse. I bought him at the end of last year from Michael Whitaker. I am thrilled to have Arlo; I own him together with a very good friend of mine \u2013 Sarah Borthwick. She is a great supporter of mine: She owns half of both of my good horses, Arlo and Chinook. It is a pleasure to have horses like this and we need support in keeping them as there is a lot of demand for horses that can achieve these great results. We have a big year next year with the Olympics and the Europeans in our sights. It is a nice way to finish off 2020 with a Grand Prix win.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the Olympics, Europeans and the Nations Cup Final next year, there will be a lot of good opportunities,\u201d Howley said about his plans for 2021. \u201cIreland is a very strong country and we have a lot of good horses in our string throughout the squad. Hopefully, I will get an opportunity to jump a few Nations Cups with this horse. I really want to take the next step with him, because I believe he can do it all. We have been on tour with seven horses for two months now, and this was a fantastic way to finish. I am happy to go home tonight!\u201d<\/p>\n
Under strict Covid-19 protocols, the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour returns with its spring-edition in 2021 \u2013 starting January 12th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n For full results, click here<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n