As this year’s prestige equestrian event – the Vilamoura Champions Tour – begins with a welcome party at the Thai Beach Club on Friday (September 26), top international riders are flying in to the Algarve.
Among the stars confirmed for 2014 are John Whitaker, “simply one of the greatest legends in international showjumping history”, Olympic gold medallist Nick Skelton and dashing Lorenzo de Luca, the 27-year-old who is ranked 77th in the Longines FEI World Ranking.
They will be joining scores of other riders from all over the world for the four-week-long championship, which has become best known for combining the thrills of world-class competition with the delights of a luxurious holiday destination.
This year, facilities have been upgraded – for instance, there is the new Otto Sport arena, specially built to house the tour’s many events.
As Irish rider Trevor Breen said in the event’s celebration video filmed last year: “I think within three to five years, this will be one of the best facilities in Europe.”
For details of the VCT schedule, consult: http://alubox.pt/
