Michelle a step closer to realizing dream

Sydney-based Asian Games team showjumping silver medalist Michelle Cojuangco Barrera is now only a half-point shy of gaining the prestigious Certification of Capability (COC) to qualify for the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, next year.

Barrera, the granddaughter of San Miguel Corp. chairman Eduardo and Gretchen Cojuangco, inched a step closer to making her dream of representing the Philippines in the World Games come true by topping the tough qualifiers at the Gold Coast Polo and Country Club in Queensland last Sunday.

The University of New South Wales sophomore psychology major was the only unscathed rider among 17 competitors to register a double clear on the Grand Prix track designed by Victorian national selector Leeson Sirett.

Barrera, who turns 22 next week, was a picture of poise, perfection and precision in mounting her 10-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding Kayak Van Het Gravenhof to victory.

"My horse loved me that day," said Barrera in an overseas phone call from Sydney yesterday. "Going in, I knew it would be a tough competition and I didn"t expect to win. My goal was to just gain experience. But I tried my best. Luckily, things worked out."

Barrera wore the Philippine tri-colors on her blue jacket and joined Olympian Katie McVean of New Zealand as the only foreigners in the predominantly Australian cast of riders.

Barrera had no faults and no time penalties in posting two clear rounds for 20 points to beat Olympic showjumping coach Rob Brown, coach Chris Chugg and Athens Olympian Tim Amitrano. She took the first prize of A$2,500.

Brown, riding Mr. Burns, finished with a double clear but was slapped a time penalty in each round for 17 points to place second and pocketed A$1,500. Chugg, who trains Barrera with Vicki Roycroft, wound up third on Australian Sportshorse Breeder’s stallion Vivant with a perfect first round and four faults in the second. Amitrano settled for fourth on Mr. Innocent with four faults in each round. The top four placers earned half a point each in the race to gain a full COC point for a ticket to the World Games.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported that Barrera, the only female in the top four, stole the show in outjumping the male contingent. She was one of only four females among 17 entries.

"The win is the most serious and biggest victory for Michelle so far in showjumping," said Barrera’s father Mike. "It places her within reach of competing among the world’s best riders in the World Games next year."

Barrera said her ultimate dream is to wear the country’s colors in the Olympics.

"My Olympic dream is very much alive," she said. "Qualifying for the World Games is another dream because that will mean competing at the highest level in the sport."

If and when she qualifies for the Aachen competitions, Barrera said her dream is to relocate to Belgium or France in March or April, enroll in school for a semester, and start training for the World Games which are set in August. Then, she hopes to ride for the Philippines at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, later that year.

"I owe everything to my grandparents, my lolo (Ambassador Cojuangco) and ‘ta (Mrs. Cojuangco), who’ve supported my love for horses and the sport since I was a little girl," she said. "My parents (Mike and Tina) are always there for me as well as my entire family. My school (University of New South Wales) has supported me a lot and I will be forever grateful for my scholarship. They are all my inspiration."

Barrera, an associate scholarship holder for the New South Wales Institute of Sport, said a conflict in schedule will prevent her from competing for the Philippines in the coming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

"There will be World Games qualifiers during the SEA Games and my horse will be tied up," said Barrera who has lived in Australia with her parents, two brothers (Teddy and Ernesto) and sister (Monica) since 1996. "I’m in close touch with our national team and I’ll be cheering from Australia."

The team of Toni Leviste, Paola Zobel, Jones Lanza and Joker Arroyo will represent the country at the SEA Games. The coach is Asian Games gold medalist Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski who is Barrera’s aunt.

Barrera’s father Mike said the Gold Coast competition was particularly challenging because of the lofty FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) standards imposed. He said the course was designed to put the riders to a severe test and set up obstacles that featured full widths and lengths. It was the third Pacific League qualifier this season and the first with COC points at stake.

Barrera teamed with first cousin Danielle Cojuangco, Jaworski and Leviste in riding the Philippines to a silver finish in showjumping at the Asian Games in Busan three years ago. Another first cousin Paola Cojuangco was an alternate on the squad. Danielle and Paola are also granddaughters of Ambassador and Mrs. Cojuangco.