If you like horses, there’s something worth watching in Arona this August.
The Centro Hípico del Sur will host the 27th edition of the Concurso Nacional de Salto Arona-Playa de Las Américas, bringing more than 200 horse and rider combinations to the south of Tenerife across two weekends of competition.
The event takes place from 7 to 9 August and again from 14 to 16 August, with free entry throughout.
Two weekends of competition
The first weekend features the CSN* national one-star competition, with events starting at 4pm each day.
There will be riders across several categories, with plenty of attention on younger competitors as well. It should be a good chance to see some of the next generation of show jumping talent coming through.
The second weekend is where things get a bit more serious.
From 14 to 16 August, the CSN** competition takes over, with the main events starting at 8pm.
Watching show jumping at night is a different experience altogether. The floodlights, the atmosphere and horses flying over the jumps make for quite a spectacle.
The Grand Prix
The big event takes place on Saturday 15 August, when the Grand Prix will feature obstacles reaching 1.35 metres.
Some of the leading riders and horses from the Canary Islands are expected to take part, making it one of the highlights of the competition.
Then, on Sunday 16 August, the event finishes with the Six Bars.
This is one of those competitions that’s particularly good for spectators. The horses have to clear a series of obstacles that increase in height after each successful round.
One mistake and you’re out.
Eventually, there should be one horse and rider left standing… or jumping, anyway.
A free event in the south
One of the best things about the competition is that entry is free.
So if you’re in Arona, Playa de Las Américas or anywhere else in the south, it’s an easy event to add to the calendar without having to worry about ticket prices.
The competition also brings riders, teams, families and spectators from across the Canary Islands and further afield, adding another major sporting event to Arona’s already busy summer programme.
If you’ve never watched show jumping before, I’d probably go for one of the evening sessions between 14 and 16 August.
It’s free, it’s something a little different and seeing a horse clear a 1.35-metre obstacle in front of you is impressive stuff.
Not a bad way to spend an evening in the south.