Oliva Nova, Valencia, Spain – April 26, 2026 – Sunday’s €57,000 CHG – Construcciones Hispano Germanas Grand Prix CSI 3* – 1.50m wrapped up 12 weeks of competition at Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova, Spain, where the 2026-edition of Spring MET concluded with a Brazilian victory.
The Spanish course designer Elena Boix had set up a first-round track of 13 obstacles and 16 efforts, which saw only five from the 50 horse-and-rider combinations at start clear their way into the deciding jump-off.
In the jump-off, Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha (BRA) and and the 15-year-old mare Chevaux Primavera Império Egípcio (Calvaro F.C. x Paroli 4) clocked the winning time of 39.83 seconds.
“It was a good three-star Grand Prix,” the happy winner explained afterwards “Me and Primavera are just trying to improve and get ready for the Nations Cups and all the CSIOs that are coming this summer. This was a good class for us in our journey towards the World Championships in Aachen. I was lucky with my starting order to be in the last part of the class, and I had a good plan.”
Emily Routledge (GBR) and Mister Jones (Comme Il Faut 5 x Quinta Real) took the runner-up spot as the second double clear of the competition, crossing the finish line in 41.14 seconds.
Martin Dopazo (ARG) on I. Umonia R 60 (Den Ham Blue R x Chellano) finished third, Iván Serrano Sáez (ESP) with Paco vd Bisschop (Cabrio van de Heffinck x Plot Blue) fourth and Hannah Åkerblom (SWE) aboard Chodec (Guidam Sohn x Centgraf) fifth – each with a fence down.
“Primavera is a special horse for me,” Stephan explained. “We started together a long time ago, when she was six. We have won the Brazilian Championship two times, and we have topped the South American Championship as well as the Pan-American Games, we placed fifth at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris… She is an unbelievable horse, a horse of a lifetime for me. Now, we are just getting ready for the World Championships in Aachen, that is our target for the year. She did a few schooling rounds here before the Grand Prix today. I believe we are on a good way; I am thankful for my sponsors and supporters.”
“Everything is well organized, the schedule is fine, the rings are clean – and the food is good,” Stephan said about the venue in Oliva Nova. “It’s a really good place to be and to get ready for the season ahead.”
Final Results – €57,000 CHG – Construcciones Hispano Germanas Grand Prix CSI 3* – 1.50m
1) Stephan de Freitas Barcha (BRA) & Chevaux Primavera Império Egípcio – 0 / 0 – 39.83
2) Emily Routledge (GBR) & Mister Jones – 0 / 0 – 41.14
3) Martin Dopazo (ARG) & I. Umonia R 60 – 0 / 4 – 40.46
Source: Press Release (edited) from the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour
Photos: © MET / http://www.1clicphoto.com / Hervé Bonnaud
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