Spain: Everything is ready for the 2015 Barcelona Dressage Tour in Can Alzina

18 Mar 2015
Carl Hester, Michael Eilberg, Fiona Bigwood are some of the TOP international riders that will be competing.

• More than 320 entries from 20 countries are registered within the two CDIs.
• Spains team riders Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, Jordi Domingo, Lauró Aguiló, José Manuel Lucena and Claudio Castilla are expected.
• The judging panel includes 12 international 5* judges.
• ALBANY TRUSTEE appointed as the principal sponsor for the event.

Two weeks ago we closed a magical competition in Jerez de la Frontera, in the south of Spain and now the final countdown for another international show on the calendar has already started, everything is ready for the 2015 Barcelona Dressage Tour, in it´s second edition this time. Can Alzina, the marvelous facilities of the Elias – Collins – Vila families are hosting  from March 17^th to the 29^th, a CDI 3* followed by a CDI 4* with many riders repeating after the fantastic experience in 2014.

Many Spanish and foreign top riders are arriving these days in the beautiful Catalan region of Bellaterra. The two CDIs with 320 inscriptions, from 20 countries gather approximately 160 athletes, along with their technical teams: grooms, trainers, breeders, and owners. In 2015 several thousand of spectators visited the showground, and this year’s event promises to live up to the reputation.

The program includes an ample range of tests. At the top level there will be two Grand Prix, one for Freestyle and another one for the Special. The second CDI-Am will be celebrated on European soil, in Spain.  This new ‘Amateur’ test, which had just debuted in Jerez, will be offered again at the BCN Dressage Tour. The younger riders will be able to compete in the U25 and of course  young riders, juniors, children, ponies and young horses are not missing on the tight interesting show schedule. Almost 80,000 euros in prize money will be awarded to the winning riders. The CDI3* is thrilled to be sponsoring the Spanish stud Adama da Susa and LIBERTO.

After the fantastic debut in 2014 this second edition promises again to be at the height of expectation! The eyes of fans and officials in the whole dressage world will be focused on Barcelona. Live broadcast of the whole competition assures worldwide exposure for the riders and the discipline.

There will be horse – rider combinations from a total of 20 countries, including Germany, Holland, Great Britain, Denmark, and Sweden, as well as from other leading countries in the discipline. But there are also interesting ‘newcomers’ within the participants such as Japan, Palestine and Russia i.e.

From Great Britain we expect some of the TOP riders such as Carl Hester, Michael Eilberg, Fiona Bigwood, Richard Davidson and Henriette Andersen.  These riders will add quality riding and ‘suspense’ to the competition amongst many others. Soon you will find the complete list of competitors on the event website.

Of course Spanish top stars, such as Beatriz Ferrer-Salat with SIR RADJAH and several younger horses as well as Claudio Castilla with ALCAIDE and ULISSES, Lauro Aguilo with @HIERRO C, Jose Manuel Lucena with WOLK, Jordi Domingo etc are expected at BCN Dressage Tour 2015.

The two weeks of competitions offer again a prestigious ground jury, including 12 international 5* judges. Amongst them we find three members of the European Dressage Championship panel, as Susanne Baarup (DEN), Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA) and Tomas Lang (AUT), so far 1^st reserve. Other top judges are i.e. Vicenzo Truppa (ITA), Gotthielf Riexinger (GER), Stephen Clarke (GBR) and Maribel Alonso (MEX) who will be the ‘First Lady’ at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Of course the Spanish international 4* judges Juan Carlos Campos and Francisco Guerra will be on location. Additionally, in Barcelona there will be two members of the next ‘European Championship – JSP panel’: David Hunt and Uwe Mechlen will observe the competition and be available for riders and judges questions on the scene, during the CDI4*.

The best accommodations are provided for the competitors and their teams so that the 2015  Barcelona Dressage Tour will be another unforgettable experience. Beautiful quality facilities guarantee a smooth show, top surfaces and stabling area prepared with all commodities for the athletes. An unbeatable environment and atmosphere is waiting in Barcelona with Dressage & Friends, moments and emotions! Good Spanish food is a ‘must’ at Can Alzina and Barcelona boasts an amazing cultural, gastronomic and night-life-offering, at a distance of 30km away.

The event will be streaming live on www.topiberian.com with commentary from Bobby Fernandez de Bobadilla, the former director of Dressage at the Royal Spanish Federation. For any additional information please go to www.eventos.topiberian.com

Source: Topiberian