The current national champion, António Matos Almeida, with Nikel de Presle, was the best Portuguese rider, in the eighth position.
“From a sports point of view, we couldn’t ask for anything better this first week”, said Antonio Moura, from the organization, referring to the victory of the Irish rider, Darragh Kenny, the first rider in the world ranking to be present this first week at the Vilamoura Champions Tour 2015.

The Irish rider won a 6 250 euros in a competition with a prize money of 25 thousand euros.

Forty nine teams were present at the CSI 2* Grand Prix (GP).
The first course challenged the riders with 13 jumps and 16 efforts, in a competition counting towards the Longines ranking of FEI – International Equestrian Federation.

The Italian Elio Travagliati was the official of the first competition.

António Moura ensured next week will be “a major challenge” and the level of the show “will increase” with the presence of the best riders in the world.

“We will have the presence of many world champions, many Olympic gold medallists, including the world’s nº5, the Irish rider Bertram Allen, he stressed.
With a prize money of 490 thousand euros, the event includes two “2 Stars Grand Prix” and two “3 Stars Grand Prix”. From a total of 100 competitions, 12 will count towards the Longines ranking of FEI – International Equestrian Federation.

The international equestrian show Vilamoura Atlantic Tour 2015 is sponsored by Caixa de Crédito Agrícola, Inframoura, Turismo de Portugal/Algarve, Câmara Municipal de Loulé and Microprocessador.

It also has the support of: Hotel Hilton Vilamoura, Mike Davis, Garvetur, Tivoli Hotels, Inframoura, Cegonha Country Club, Oceanic Golf, Horsery and Hertz.

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Emma Stoker schooling Quincy Lady during the Atlantic Tour, Photo: One Shot

Atlantic Tour Young horse Classes are hotly contested this week with the European Cup totalling 44,500 euros in prize money!  This week, Emma Stoker, in the young horses’ competition, is under the spotlight. The British rider achieved a double victory in the 2015 Young Horses European Cup, riding Shelby 12 and Quincy Lady, in the finals for 5 and 6 years respectively.

In addition, in the 7 years old class, the first place was won by the Norwegian Cecilie Hatteland, riding Chic Hin D Hyrencourt. During these three days, a 44,500 EUR prize money was disputed.

Next Sunday, March the 15^th, is scheduled the Pine Cliffs Grand Prix Cup, the first Grand Prix with a three star rating (CSI3 *), with qualification for the 2015 European Championship in Aachen, Germany. Th​is​

Next week, 16 to 23 of March, it will be a break week; riders will return to the equestrian village on March, the 24th.

The international equestrian show Vilamoura Atlantic Tour 2015 is sponsored by Turismo de Portugal – Algarve, Câmara Municipal de Loulé, Pine Cliffs Resort, Caixa de Crédito Agrícola, Inframoura, Lusort and Microprocessor (digital systems) among others. It also has the support of: Hotel Hilton Vilamoura, Hotel Porto Bay Falésia, Hotéis Dom Pedro, Hotéis Tivoli; Garvetur; Mike Davis; Cegonha Country Club and Hertz.