A remarkable showjumping championship series, the likes of which have not been mounted in the country in over a decade and is open to all riders nationwide, has culminated in an Overall Championship title for 20-year-old Paola Lorenzo aboard her 13-year-old Selle Francais chestnut gelding, Rubis Landais.
The series, organized by Equestrian Philippines, Inc., the country’s leading organization in equestrian sports, was composed of three legs of jumping competitions held at the Manila Polo Club, with riders accumulating points per leg towards an overall championship title and category championship titles.
Lorenzo, a management engineering student at the Ateneo de Manila University, was stellar in the field, showing great talent and skill in the 1.20 meter category, the highest level of competition in the series.
EquestrianPH president Carissa Coscolluela expressed enthusiasm at Lorenzo’s potential.
“We are really excited to see Paola progress as much as she has in recent years, and we have no doubt that soon she will be very competitive at the regional level,” said Coscolluela.
National team stalwart and Lorenzo’s coach, Joker Arroyo added: “Paola is an extremely talented athlete, and has proven on multiple occasions to be a reliable team member who always delivers. She is an excellent student, and it has been an honor and a pleasure to be a part of her development as a rider.”
Long-time rider Lara Zobel, on her new mount Lander van Bijsterveld, and the hardworking 14-year-old Nicole Camcam on Aralea T, shared the podium as category champions in the 1.10m class.
On the other hand, Camcam also took top honors in the 1.00m category on Con Amber.
Both Zobel and Camcam will embark on regular training jaunts abroad, with the former establishing a base in France, and the latter in the United States.
Manila-based Egyptian expat Mohamed El Akkad was the runaway champion in the 0.90m category, taking the top place at all legs of the competition on the 15-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding Cooper.
Alessandra Ynares-Villalon on Un Chti du Banney, cool under pressure, took the 0.75m category, despite having to split her time between the competitions and the intense pressure of the college application process.
Finally, 12-year-old Minxie Romualdez, in a season-ender show of class, courage, and determination, was champion in the 0.65m category aboard her reliable and speedy Irish pony, Magic Mio.
EquestrianPH has launched a second championship series in only a six-month period, which will culminate at the Equestrian Philippines Cup at the Annual Horse Show at the Manila Polo Club on March 29.
