James Smith scores a hat-trick on the Spring III Mediterranean Equestrian Tour
Monday 16 March 2026
James Smith hit form on the Spring MET III Tour 2026 with a hat-trick of wins in Oliva Nova, Spain.
James’ consistent partner Juno Rose 23 stepped up to the plate in an early 22-strong Gold 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier over a speed track, the 12-year-old Erdento daughter flying ahead to win by more than two seconds. Sammie-Jo Coffin settled for second with the 16-year-old Chaccomo Blue.
“This was her first show back following a four-month winter break and she felt good and straight back on form,” said James, who last jumped this mare at this venue in November.
Astrade Z also showed form in the world ranking Trofeo ClipMyHorseTV Gold 1.45m to hand James another victory. Thirteen of the original 38 starters posted initial clears to qualify for the jump-off, but James again had the upper hand, skilfully easing the nine-year-old Air Jordan Alpha Z x Indoctro mare into a 0.56 second win. Lance Whitehouse also jumped double clear for third on White Sparke Argo.
“Astrade is a very exciting, up-and-coming mare. I took her steady last year and stepped her up to the Winter Grand Prix in January, winning at Kelsall Hill and finishing second at Aintree. She’s a smart mare and I think she’s going to be very special. I’ve just stepped her up again – this was her second world ranking class – and I got a good draw, all the fences came up good [on a stride] and she is naturally quick,” said James.
James marked his third win of the week in the Gold 1.30m speed with Cherif Bebawi’s 13-year-old Jazmin (Odermus x Doliart) by 0.89 seconds.
“I rode her two or three years ago and she qualified for the HOYS Grade C. I’ve just met up with the owner again at this show and I’m riding a couple more of horses for him,” explained James. “Jazmin’s a fun horse, competitive and a winner.”
Alex Barr picked up a second place in Friday’s world ranking 57-horse Gold 1.45m speed, the 11-year-old Preben Van De Doornakkers (For Pleasure x Nabab De Reve) finishing a little over two seconds behind the winner.
Sammie-Jo conjured up a victory double in the Gold 1.40m classes; the nine-year-old Cornet of Folly foot (Cornet Obolensky x Quidam De Revel) galloping ahead of 30 rivals to win by 0.85 seconds, while the 13-year-old Elsalvador Van’t Schaaphof Z headed a 53-strong two-phase by the tiny margin of 0.05 seconds.
Several Brits recorded 1.30m speed class wins; Remy Ellis hit top gear on the Zacharov 14-year-old Helsinki to beat 69 rivals by 0.20 seconds, Rebecca Mason jumped to the top with the 14-year-old mare Vancurtis with 1.16 seconds to spare, Milli Cornock outpaced 57 competitors to win by 0.85 seconds on the nine-year-old Calcourt Goldielux, and Lucy Hardy aboard the 12-year-old Zirocco Cruise had the edge by 0.07 seconds over second-placed Louis Gunn and Touche De Muze.
Holly Smith leads the way for the British on the Andalucia Sunshine Tour
Holly Smith dominated the 4* Small Tour 1.45m as British riders filled the top three places on Week 6 of the Andalucia Sunshine Tour in Spain.
Fifty riders came forward over a two-phase course, Holly claiming first and second, winning with the eight-year-old Sing Z (Copycat Z x Contact Van De Heffinck) and taking second aboard the nine-year-old mare Uzaravanta Z, 1.11 seconds separating the two. Will Fletcher guided Shelton DD into third, 0.82 seconds in arrears.
Scotland’s Emma Crawford jumped the Caretino x Clearway 14-year-old Dukes of Hazzard into second in an early 87-strong 4* Medium 1.45m speed, 3.60 seconds off the pace. Ruby Barrs slotted Manzana De Rigo into third.
Ruby picked up a winning double in the Six-year-old classes on I’m Special Balia HD (I’m Special De Muze x Germus R), outpacing 67 rivals in the 1.20m speed by 0.67 seconds and topping the following day’s 64-strong 1.20m two-phase with 2.55 seconds to spare.
In other supporting classes, James Davenport secured the final 4* Small 1.40m two-phase on the Lando 14-year-old Caschmir Du Pomiez, beating 36 contenders by 1.52 seconds. Glain Watkin-Jones guided the Dakar VDL 10-year-old La Vie Est D’Or into victory in a 4* Small 1.40m two-phase with 3.54 seconds in hand while Brits took the top two places in the Young Rider 1.40m speed, Madison Seedhouse returning triumphant on the 14-year-old Emara Giguellerie Z 0.25 seconds ahead of Sophie Paxton’s Glasgow Z. And Ronnie Jones sped ahead of 30 competitors to claim the 4* Medium 1.35m two-phase by 0.12 seconds on Sue Evans’ 12-year-old Arezzo VDL stallion Janeiro.
Jay Buxton scored a victory double in the 4* 1.30m two-phase classes with Maserati WS, the nine-year-old Etoulon stallion beating 87 challengers in the first by 0.84 seconds and going on to take another with 0.33 seconds in hand. Taio Strevetti was another double winner, taking the top spot in the 44-horse Junior 1.35m two-phase by 1.44 seconds on the Cornet Obolensky 11-year-old Harrop Grigio and heading the concluding 4* Medium 1.30m two-phase on the eight-year-old Luidam daughter Bellini OS to deny Jay and Maserati a third win by only 0.03 seconds.
Red Morgan headed a 44-entry 4* Big 1.30m two-phase on the evergreen 18-year-old True Blue III by 0.22 seconds, but the pair had to settle for second in Saturday’s 4* Medium 1.30m speed as Guy Williams proved unbeatable, winning by 0.74 seconds aboard the 11-year-old Karim EBH – also third in the final day’s 4* Big 1.40m. Rachel Proudley was another 1.30m speed winner, the Vangelis-S 13-year-old No Snow On Me galloping to the top to win by 0.41 seconds over Jessica Hewlett’s second-placed Ilmar HBC.
British riders are in the money in Europe
Robert Murphy registered a third place in the world ranking 70-strong 3* 1.50m two-phase in Gorla Minore, Italy, the 13-year-old Eagle VD Wolfsakker Z just 0.17 seconds off the winning time. An easy double clear in the eight-strong decider of the top-billed 3* 1.55m Grand Prix on the 10-year-old Kiliman Sitte earned fifth spot.
Chloe Aston touted a winning double in Bedizzole, Italy, topping a 90-entry 4* 1.40m two-phase on the nine-year-old Diatendro Von Rocherath Z (Diamant De Semilly x Contendro) by 0.71 seconds, and earned victory in the concluding 1* 1.35m Grand Prix aboard the 13-year-old Casall daughter Fraya Wiro by 0.87 seconds in an eight-strong jump-off.
At Azelhof in Lier, Belgium, Chris Smith finished second in day one’s 60-horse 2* 1.40m speed with Ashdale Allstar, before the pair went one better on the final day. Sixty-five competitors contended the 2* 1.40m two-phase, Chris and In Time Consultancy’s Luidam x Big Star 10-year-old claiming a 1.10 second win over Belgium’s Wilm Vermeir on Adelio. Harriette Rushton also stood in the winner’s enclosure on the 10-year-old Anytime Z in the 46-entry 1* 1.30m by 1.13 seconds.
Image: 1clicphoto
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