Friday 5th March

Awoken by the sound of some Sparrows with Spring on their mind this morning just before it got light. I think they must like the acoustics of our high-walled courtyard. They were closely followed by the Swallows noisily telling their friends that our tiny swimming pool was the place to swoop to for a quick drink.

We felt a little guilty for all of you freezing your butts off in Northern Europe as we left the house for the showground dressed only in a light fleece. Rain was forecast for later in the day so we took coats but fortunately did not need them.

Arriving at Montenmedio we slipped immediately into our old routine of checking up on the previous days results and the running order for the day, whilst drinking cafe con leche and eating toasted rolls.

The Brits managed a one two in the Inter II yesterday. Michael Eilberg came out in pole position with Marakov on 67.8% just pipping Henriette Andersen on Lous D'or by 0.2%. The other Brit placed in the 'Tour classes was Lisa Wilcox taking joint third in the PSG.

A quick guide to the classes might be helpful at this point. They are split up as follows -

BIG TOUR - This kicks off with a warm up Inter II followed by the Grand Prix, split over Friday and Saturday and a GP Special for the highest placed combinations on Sunday.
SMALL TOUR - There is the chance to warm up in the national PSG earlier in the week before the international class spread over Thursday and Friday, followed by the Inter I on Saturday and Sunday.

The 'Tour classes are held in the main arena next to the stables and restaurant and generally all other classes, except for the final "final" in week three, are held in another lovely sand arena. This is about a ten minute walk away along a sandy track through the umberalla pines and alongside the top class golf course.

YOUNG HORSE - These are for 5 and 6 year old horses and are judged on performance in the FEI young horse tests.

OWNERS - Don't let the term owners fool you. Anyone can ride these classes that wants to compete at Advancedish level and ride the FEI Juniors and Young Riders tests.

JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDERS - Just as you would expect these are tests for juniors and young riders.

You will notice that we are partisan, along the lines of patriotism or friendship, in the recording of results and erratic on the reporting of performance in the arena. This is because our main job is running the shop and we only get the chance to watch at quiet times. The other way we get our information is talking to people as they visit the bar, restaurant or loo, all closely located to our shop, or indeed when they come into browse in the shop. So if you are at the Sunshine Tour and want your story in our blog come and tell us!

A big thank you to Emily Hamblin who is riding the gorgeous grey, Royal Dancer here at Small Tour. Her mother volunteered her services hearing our cry of "where is a youngster when you need them?" during a Classic Dressage mobile phone crisis. One of our phones had suddenly stopped working mid conversation. We had then found a following a tiny microchip card on the table and had the phone in pieces trying to find where and how this tiny piece had fallen out. Emily fixed it in ten seconds!


We left the showground early today at about 5.30pm as we has a few domestic tasks including shopping and washing to do but not before a few competition snippits -

Grand Prix some initial results. Maria Eilberg is in the lead with 68.3%, followed by Henriette Andersen in second place and the other young Eilberg, Michael in fith place.
Small Tour. Valegro looked wonderful. Expressive and every ounce the "happy athlete"

Look forward to some great pictures tomorrow - We have both brought cameras but got sidetracked with 1. shop, 2. lunch, 3. gawping at adorable spanish horses, 4. hugs and kisses for friends and customers not seen for a year. Not to mention catching up with Rowan Lewis, Nicky Barrett, Carl Hester ("I can't manage another buffett dinner this holiday"), Team Boswell ("Make sure you try the carrot cake it's the best we've ever had") and of course out dear friend Henriette Andersen ("Do you REALLY have a washing machine at your house???").

Catch up soon!