With the first of the two series of the IPPOS SPRING TOUR International Show Jumping Competition on 9-12 May, the jumpers are gathering in the facilities of the “Ippos Club” in Nea Raidestos, Greece. The Grand Prix title defender Benjamin Plantade of France, Ivaylo Bonev of Bulgaria and strong Italians led by Roberto Previtali are ready to fight for the prize money totalling €174,000. The fans will see 149 riders and 197 horses from Europe and Brazil.
Top athletes from 14 countries along with their high-standard horses are expected to offer thrilling spectacles at the IPPOS SPRING TOUR International Show Jumping Competitions starting on the Thursday 9 May with the first series of competitions. The host of the event and rider Anna Papageorgiou is looking forward to the start of the competition:
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Ippos Spring Tour 2024, an international competition held for the second successive year at the Ippos club, in Thessaloniki. I feel very proud of all the members of the Organising Committee who I am sure will, for one more year, carry out such an important event in our city,” says Papageorgiou who will start with her horses Janning, Flying Spur and Gearnac de Listor in the CSI2* Category.
“The IPPOS Spring Tour 2024 is a sporting event that will surpass last year’s event, with the participation of riders from all over the Balkans and Europe. I wish the best of luck to all those who are taking part in this prestigious equestrian event!,” she added.
The CSI2* category (competitions at the intermediate level, the jumps are set at heights ranging from approximately 1.30 to 1.35 meters) will see 40 athletes and 65 horses. Italian Roberto Previtali riding three horses: Esteban de Hus, Hachiko and Come on Semilly belong among the top names of this category.
Strong Previtali and defending Plantade on the start list
The Italian 32-year-old rider Roberto Previtali is coming to Greece with a valuable second place from the Doha Grand Prix CSI2* in January with his Come on Semilly. The experienced athlete has a rich history in show jumping winning the GP in Valencia in 2023.
But he will face a strong French rider Benjamin Plantade and his Ginger de la Roche who will defend his Grand Prix victory from last year. Third from last year, home star Dimitri Natzis is also ready to fight for the top positions on his Cresco.
Next prominent names such as the Brazilian Rachelle Rinaldini with her partner Italian Andrea Messersi, the Bulgarian Ivo Bonev, as well as the Greek champions Aikaterini Laskaridis and Alexandros Fourlis are entering the competition as well.
The IPPOS Club founded in 2020, it is the largest equestrian club in northern Greece and the second largest club in Greece after the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Attica. The venue was reconstructed in 2022 and expanded to 151 acres. The event is included in the official competition calendar of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and includes four separate categories that award points in the world ranking.
