05/05/2011

The second contest of the 2011 Global Champions Tour’s calendar gathers this weekend 30 of the 34 best riders of the international ranking in an intense competition program with five contests per day.

The third Global Champions Tour in Valencia has officially been inaugurated this morning after cutting the ribbon at the competition arena. The open ceremony has been held by the Project Coordination General Manager of the Generalitat Valenciana, Cristina Morató, together with the Sports Town Councilor, Cristóbal Grau, and the director of the City of the Arts and Sciences, Pedro García Ribot.

To the event, which takes place from May 5th to the 8th at the City of the Arts and Sciences, have also attended the director of the Levante area from the Sabadell Bank, Miguel Torres, the international rider Cayetano Martínez de Irujo, and the Delegate Counselor from Oxer Sport, Álvaro Arrieta.

For Cayetano Martínez de Irujo, this event “means a before and after in the equestrian world”. In his opinion “Valencia has an equestrian tradition and can be pioneer in really promoting the reality of this sport through this event, which has 30 of the 34 best riders of the world. These are records hard to beat by other venues”.

Cayetano Martínez de Irujo has also pointed out that his challenge is “to promote the equestrian world and take away an unfair tag that has been given to this sport here in Spain”.

Finally, de delegate counselor from Oxer Sport and director of the event, Álvaro Arrieta, has emphasized the growth of the event. An improvement that can be evaluated by the number of riders and horses, the commercial village zone, and the schools visiting the Horse Park. In fact, he has confirmed that “there have been riders and horses that could not come because we have no more space to accommodate more than 230 horses that are already taking part in the Tournament”.

A WEEKEND WITH AN INTENSE PROGRAM FULL OF COMPETITIONS
The best riders of the international ranking will gather this weekend at the Global Champions Tour with a program full of contests (five competitions per day, two for CSI 5* and three for CSI 2*).

This morning was the routine veterinarian inspection, and this afternoon are the free trainings starting at 3.30 pm. Tomorrow, Friday May 6th, the day will start with the first competitions.

At the contests of high level (CSI5*) a total of 55 riders with 108 horses will compete and at the amateur level (CSI 2*) 60 riders and 93 horses will take part in the contests.

Moreover, along the entire weekend, the public will witness some well-known faces at the arena like Athina Onassis, Carlota Casiraghi, and HRH Infanta Doña Elena, among others.

TICKETS
The tickets for the public can be purchased at www.cac.es, by phone calling 902 100 031, or at the box office at the entrance of Museo Príncipe Felipe, in the City of the Arts and Sciences.