Ireland’s Cathal Daniels Wins First Leg of Portugal Winter Tour

Cathal Daniels (IRE) and Shannondale Mari. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The new “Tour” formats of the Strzegom Summer Tour, which placed out across two weekends in July in Poland, and the Portugal Winter Tour, a three-event series that kicked off this weekend at Barroca d’Alva, represent a creative solution to the problem of canceled FEI events this year. Not unlike winter circuit series here in the U.S. that span weeks or even months, the Tour format invites riders to settle in and stay a while — of particular convenience with current quarantine requirements and travel restrictions.

While Portuguese borders are currently open, competitors must still carry a letter with them from the event certifying their purpose of travel. Other national Covid-19 emergency measures are in place through at least Nov. 23, including a curfew.

The Portugal Winter Tour consists of three weeks of competition: Week 1 – Nov. 19-21, Week 2 – Nov. 26-28, and Week 3- Dec. 2-6. They provide the last opportunity in 2020 for athletes and horses to gain qualifications for international events in 2021 including the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Ireland’s 2019 European Championship bronze medallist Cathal Daniels has won the top class of the first leg of the Portugal Winter Tour, a CCI4*-S. He and his partner Barrichello, an 11-year-old gelding (Balou du Rouet x Matinee du Madon VII) owned by Sarah Hughes, led the 15-horse field from start to finish, winning on their dressage score of 29.7. This is a first win for the partnership of Cathal and Barichello although they have been knocking at the door this year — they were second in the CCI4*-S at Mallow and third in the CCI4*-S at Ballindenisk in August, and seventh in the CCI4*-L at the same venue the following month. Before Cathal, Barrichello was produced by Sharon March of Great Britain, followed by outings at the four-star level William Fox-Pitt and, for the year 2018, Alexander Bragg.

The Galway native also took sixth place with My Lucky Day (40.1) and was runner-up in the CCI3*-S with Shannondale Mari.

Cathal Daniels (IRE) and Shannondale Mari. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Britain’s Ben Hobday and his British Open Championship winner Shadow Man were second (31.5). Australia’s Samantha Birch riding Hunter Valley II was third (35.6) and also fifth on Finduss PFB (39.1) Sweden’s Ludwig Svennerstal and Balham Mist finished fourth (38.7).

Also represented in the field was a representation of Brazil, who qualified their team at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru: Marcio Appel CheuicheCarlos ParroRuy Fonseca and Marcio Carvalho Jorge. Thailand, which also has a ticket punched for the Games from a Special Qualifier for Groups F and G (Africa, the Middle East, South-East Asia, and Oceania) at Saumur, had a 12th place finish by Weerapat Pitakanonda. Spain’s Antonio Cejudo Caro, Belgium’s Joris Vanspringel and Australia’s Catherine Burrell all landed in the top 10.

The CCI3*-S was won by Thailand’s team gold and individual bronze medallist at the 2019 Asian Games, Korntawat Samran, with Bonero K on their dressage score of 31.5. Ludwig Svennerstal won the CCI2*-S with Jumble.

The Portugal Winter Tour continues Nov. 26-28 at Barroca d’Alva with CCI1*/ 2*S / 3*S  and National Championship classes; the final fixture, Dec. 2-6, has 1*/2*S/2*L/3*S/3*L /4*S/4*L classes.

Click here for complete results. To learn more, visit the 2020 Portugal Winter Tour website.