The San Julián National Show Jumping Competition in Cuenca is facing a very special edition from 27 to 30 August. The competition reaches its 70th edition and will do so with a sports programme that will spread the action over four days in the arena of the La Hípica Fairground.
The competition, organised by the Club Deportivo Cuenca a Caballo, will feature events ranging from 1.20 to 1.40 metres, with different scales that will test both the consistency and speed as well as the ability of horse and rider combinations to tackle these courses. The official schedule provides for a maximum of 97 horses.
Thursday will feature three official classes, over 1.20, 1.30 and 1.35 metres. Competitors will face different formats: Table A against the clock for the 1.20-metre class, special two-phase for the 1.30 and Table A against the clock at 1.35 metres.
Friday's programme will once again include the 1.20, 1.30 and 1.35-metre heights. On this occasion, the 1.35-metre class will be held under a speed and handiness format, while the 1.20 and 1.30-metre classes will be against the clock.
Saturday's schedule will feature among its main highlights the 1.35-metre special two-phase class and the 1.30-metre competition under the winning round format. There will also be a 1.20 m class against the clock.
The final day, Sunday 30 August, will attract a good deal of attention. Before talking about the blue-ribbon event, we'll let you know that a two-phase 1.20-metre competition will take place, as well as a 1.30-metre one with progressive difficulty.
The Grand Prix of the CSN3* San Julián de Cuenca, over a height of 1.40 metres, will be the most anticipated moment. The competition will be held under a two-round format without a jump-off, so consistency across both courses will be decisive in deciding the winner. With 4,720 euros in prize money, it will also be the best financially endowed event of the competition, with 1,500 euros going to the victor.
The venue will be set up for four days of competition. The main arena will be outdoors, measuring 90 x 70 metres, with a geotextile surface, whilst the warm-up arena, also with a geotextile surface, will be semi-covered and measure 60 x 25 metres. Both are located close to the stables, facilitating the movement of the horses during the competition days.
In addition to the sports programme, the organisation has arranged for the reception of horses from Wednesday 26 August and has 92 fixed stables.
