Vejer de La Frontera, Spain – January 30, 2021 – With 13 riders through to the jump off in this 2*, 1.45m Gran Prix class, the first few combinations all finished off with faults. Tim Wilks (CAN) was the first to jump a steady clear, and right after he left the ring, it was the turn of Paris Sellon (USA) with the ten year old mare ‘Attoucha’ who is owned by Willow Grace Farms in the USA.  Their round was fast and clean and she rode to win.  Immediately taking the lead, this pair set the time to beat at 38.85 seconds. 

Although Richard Howley (IRL) was faster with ‘Víctor’, he took a pole down going into the last double, and ended up in 7th place with four faults, but he did clock up the fastest time of the day, in just 37.51 seconds.  So Paris held on to the lead with this lovely mare, who is by the very famous stallion ‘Aganix Du Seigneur Z’,  himself a 1.60m horse who was ridden by Jos Lansink before he retired after injury, to stud.  Indeed there are a few of his offspring with us here this year at the Tour, Including ‘Eic Ambiance du Seigneur’, ridden by Helmut Schönsetter and ‘Asterix de Couleur’, ridden by Douglas Lindelöw.  ‘Attoucha’s’ dam is ‘Gattoucha Van’t Rosakker’ and the dam sire needs no introduction either, as he is ‘Diamant de Semilly’.  What a pedigree!

Paris told our reporter:  “it was a very good course today , it was nice that we could ride two horses, I had one down on the other horse but I’m very pleased with the performance of this mare.  It’s our first Grand Prix win together.  We plan to stay here until the beginning of March and I’m looking forward to the future with this one and this new partnership”

This finished off a great week here for Paris and her team as she also won the Longines Ranking class on Friday.  We really are looking forward to seeing her compete in the Andalucía Sunshine Tour 2022.

Last to go in the jump off was popular Norwegian rider Cecilie Hatteland (NOR).  She started off her round meaning business, and the 17-year-old gelding ‘Alex’  responded with great enthusiasm, with all eyes on the clock. In the end, Cecilie just slipped in behind Paris with a time of 39.04 seconds, to the cheers from the audience who enjoyed the excitement right up to the very end of the class. 

In third place was the Portuguese rider who has already been very successful here at the Tour.  Adir Dias de Abreu (POR) also rode a great round and if it wasn’t for a slight hesitation on the flat, from ‘Tashmir Z’, as he turned from fence four to fence one, his time would have been even more competitive.  In the end they came clear in 40.76 seconds.

Tim Wilks (CAN), who riders for Canada, and the lovely grey ‘Guestlist’, took fourth place, Jacqueline Lai (HKG) from Hong Kong with ‘Estrada’ were fifth and the Spanish rider, Antonio Mariñas Soto (ESP), rode a really beautiful steady clear round to take sixth with ‘Expresso Minotiere’.

Final Results – €25,500 Grand Prix of Vejer de La Frontera CSI 2*

1) Paris Sellon (USA) & Attoucha – 0 / 0 – 38.85

2) Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) & Alex – 0 / 0 – 39.04

3) Adir Dias de Abreu (POR) & Tashmir Z – 0 / 0 – 40.76

Source: Press Release from the Sunshine Tour

Photo: © Sunshine Tour / Moises Basallote Fotografia