Sunshine Tour Vejer 2026: Pilar Cordón Wins, Nations Cup Next

Sunshine Tour Vejer 2026: Pilar Cordón wins the CSI4* Grand Prix

Spain's Pilar Lucrecia Cordón and the mare Pica Pica Z won the Gran Premio Diputación de Cádiz on Sunday, October 25, 2026, a 1.55m CSI4* at Dehesa Montenmedio in Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz. It closed the first international week of the Andalucía October Tour, the autumn season of the Sunshine Tour Vejer circuit.

Cordón went double clear: no faults in the first round and none in the jump-off, stopping the clock at 40.03 seconds. Of 50 starters, only 11 made the jump-off.

Pica Pica Z is a 13-year-old Zangersheide mare by Pilgrim II out of an Abeltus Z dam. Spanish outlet Ociocaballo reported that Cordón had been kept off the competition field by an injury. It gave no further details, and we won't guess at them.

Grand Prix results

Britain's Millie Allen (Quickly D vh Ijzerenlindehof) was fourth and America's Emily Esau Williams (Cascarado) was sixth. The best detail: Britain's Max Routledge set the fastest jump-off time (38.77s) on Me the Rebel R.T., but one rail cost him 4 faults and he finished seventh.

That's modern show jumping in one line. In a jump-off, faults rank first and time second, so a clear round beats a fast one.

What the Sunshine Tour is and why riders winter in Andalucía

The Andalucía Sunshine Tour is one of Europe's biggest winter show jumping circuits. It runs at Dehesa Montenmedio, about 10 km south of Vejer on Spain's Costa de la Luz. It began in the mid-1990s as the Circuito Hípico del Sol and took its current name in 2022.

There are two seasons a year:

• Winter Sunshine Tour: the 33rd edition runs January 14 to March 21, 2027, with six CSI4* shows on the official calendar.
• Andalucía October Tour (autumn): this year's sixth edition opened with the Spanish Show Jumping Championship and continues with three international weeks until November 8: two CSI4* shows and one CSIO3*.

Why Andalucía?

• Weather: while northern Europe gets rain, frost and short days, Cádiz lets riders jump outdoors for most of the winter.
• Everything on one site: arenas, stabling, vets and farriers. Less time in the truck means less stress for the horse.
• Season rhythm: back-to-back weeks let young horses gain mileage and let older ones build fitness for spring.
• Points that count: CSI4* Grand Prix classes can carry world ranking points, so this is more than a training camp.

CSI4* vs CSIO3*: what the letters and stars mean

The acronyms are French. CSI stands for Concours de Saut International, an FEI-sanctioned international jumping show. The O in CSIO means officiel: the show includes an official team Nations Cup.

The stars (1 to 5) reflect difficulty and prize money. US Equestrian notes that a five-star Grand Prix is 1.60m, while a two-star show tops out at 1.45m.

• CSI4*: a high-level individual show. Sunday's Grand Prix was 1.55m.
• CSIO3*: fewer stars, but it has something a CSI4* doesn't: national teams jumping for their flag.

So a CSIO3* isn't a "lesser" show than a CSI4*. It's a different kind of contest, and for many fans the most exciting one.

How a Nations Cup works

It's a team class where riders compete for their country, usually in teams of four. The usual format:

1. Two rounds over the same course.
2. In each round, the best three scores count, and the team's worst score is dropped.
3. Usually only the top teams from round one come back for round two (at Vejer in 2022, eight teams did).
4. The team with the fewest penalties across both rounds wins. Ties may be split by time or a jump-off, depending on the show's rules.

Each CSIO sets the exact details in its FEI-approved schedule, so check it before the class starts.

Spain knows how to win here: it took the CSIO3* Nations Cup at Montenmedio in 2022 on just 4 faults. To see the format at the very top level, read our story on the Longines League of Nations Final 2026.

Spain's team for the CSIO3* Vejer Nations Cup

The CSIO3* runs October 28 to November 1, 2026, at Montenmedio. Ociocaballo published Spain's squad with the horses entered:

• Carlos Bosch Cebrián: Balt Kar, Ibiza D'Anchat Kar, Jolie van der Berghoeve Kar
• Pilar Lucrecia Cordón: Actiongrace PS, Machiavelli B, Pica Pica Z
• Álvaro González de Zárate Fernández: Balou des Frimonts, Casa Diva PS, Isadora de Ste Hermelle
• Bautista Rodríguez Debray: Vivoulette HD
• Joel Vallés Rosell: Casaspezia Kar, Toulonique de Walyro Kar

Eighteen nations are listed with teams, including Germany, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Ireland, India and the United States. Spain's selector can make changes until October 28, so the final lineup and horse choices may still shift.

The Nations Cup hasn't happened yet. There are no results, and any prediction is only that.

Fan guide: watching or visiting Montenmedio

If you go in person

• Free entry. There's no charge to get into the grounds during competition.
• Getting there: the public entrance is on the N-340 at km 41.3, between Vejer and the Montenmedio estate gate.
• What to bring: a cap and sunscreen for the day, a jacket for the evening coastal breeze, and comfortable shoes, because the site is big.
• Respect the horses: stay out of stables and warm-up areas unless you're invited, and turn off your flash. Bringing kids? Read our safety basics first.

If you watch from home

• The official Sunshine Tour website has a live TV section. Check the day's timetable in the official schedule.
• Watch the team order: in round two, every rail reshuffles the standings live.

Nations Cup viewing checklist

• Find the Nations Cup day and start time in the official CSIO3* schedule.
• Check Spain's final team after October 28.
• Count faults: every rail down adds 4.
• Remember that each team's worst score is dropped.

What to watch next

• CSIO3 and Nations Cup (Oct 28–Nov 1):* does Cordón keep riding Pica Pica Z, or pick another horse for the team?
• October Tour finale (to Nov 8): one more CSI4* week is still on the calendar.
• Winter 2027: the Sunshine Tour returns to Montenmedio on January 14.

Spanish show jumping has had a busy autumn. Catch up on the Spanish Show Jumping Championship 2026, which opened this same October Tour, and what's coming at Madrid Horse Week 2026. New to the sport? Start with our disciplines page or the glossary.