Phl equestrian strikes gold in Korea

MANILA, Philippines - The future of Philippine equestrian is in the hands of these young girls.

On borrowed horses,  Andi Santos, Camila Lastrilla and Gabbie Gavieta shone for the Philippines in the recent CSI Korean Racing Authority horse show.

Skillful, pretty and all under 18, they bagged the gold in the junior team event in show jumping, besting teams from Hong Kong, Iran, Korea, Thailand and Chinese Taipei.

A dozen countries fielded entries in the event held April 20-22 at the rain-drenched KRA Equestrian Park, and winning the gold is certainly a big achievement.

The other members of the team were Diego Virata, Macarena Rocha and Katrina Montinola who placed sixth behind Iran, India, Chinese Taipei, Qatar and Hong Kong in the seniors (over 18) team event.

American coach Jeff Fields and chef d’equipe Mia Virata joined the team.

It was a drawn-horses event, meaning except for the local riders, the rest of the competitors rode on borrowed horses, which is never easy.

Equestrian Association of the Philippines secretary-general Steven Virata said the riders were allowed only 10 minutes to know the horses with only six practice jumps each.

“So, basically it was a just-get-on-it-and-do-your-best thing. And all our riders did very well,” said Virata the other night.

Jose Cojuangco, chief of the Philippine Olympic Committee, hosted a thanksgiving dinner at his decorated residence in Makati.

His daughter, Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, the gold medalist in the individual show jump event of the 2002 Busan Asian Games, was present.

“I think I’m already looking at our team for the 2014 Asian Games,” said Mikee, who shared her golden experiences with the young riders over dinner.

She recalled her first crack at equestrian, when she was about 14 or 15, and how she stumbled and fell in her initial attempts to clear the obstacles.

“Mikee would come up to me crying, saying she wanted to go home. But she pushed through. We all know she later on won the gold in the Asian Games,” said Cojuangco.

Mikee, in powder blue linen shirt and tight jeans, blushed.

The EAP sec-gen, son of former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, said while the recent event was not to the level of the Asian Games, it wasn’t a walk in the park.

“The degree of difficulty was there. First, it was a borrowed-horses event, then it was raining, and they were all given very limited time to know the horses,” he said.

Cojuangco was impressed, and had fun watching the MTV-style video presentation of the Philippine campaign in Korea. He said he will work for incentives for the gold medalists.

“But I will be happier if you make it to the Olympics. Perhaps you can win the first Olympic gold for the Philippines,” said Cojuangco.

“No pressure,” Mikee told the young girls, “but better start working on it tomorrow.”

Then laughter filled the air.