Brazil and Argentina each claimed four of the eight titles on offer at the FEI South America Jumping Championships for Young Riders, Juniors, Pre-Juniors and Children 2016 staged in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 4 to 11 September. The event took place at the Sociedade Hipica Paulista and riders from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay took on the host nation.
Brazilian course designer, Helio Lemos Pessoa, kept them on their toes and produced great sport throughout the exciting tournament.
Children
Argentina Blanca looked very authoritative indeed when scooping the Children’s Team honours on a zero score last Thursday. Foot-perfect runs from Richard Kierkegaard (Du Noble), Emilia Demattei (Carlazo Cooper) and Avril Rosso Cuaino (Air Queen) meant the single first-round error from Lautaro Peña Bruno (Walterstown Cruise) could be discounted. And when Kierkegaard was the only one to make a mistake second time out then it was a done deal for gold.
It was neck-and-neck for silver between the Brasil Verde side of Mariana Xavier Scomparin (Espectacular do Xapuri), Maria Luiza da Silva Martha Vieira (Wonder Z), Juliana Salles Amaral de Almeida (Figo van de Kruishoeve) and Lys Katherine Park Kang (Macarena Tok) and the Brasil Amarelo foursome of Pedro Henrique Martins Kuhlmann (Carry Girl Jmen), Carolina Souza Chade (Corbella Jmen), Rui Flavio Guiao (Duka M) and Matheus Riginik Ferreira Sant’ Anna (Poete de Preuilly HDC) when each reached the halfway stage on a four-fault scoreline. And it was desperately close to the very end when the only thing separating the two sides was the single time fault collected by Amarelo’s Flavio Guiao which had to be taken into account when team-mate Martins Kuhlmann collected four faults second time out – Brasil Verde keeping a completely clean sheet in round two to clinch the silver.
A total of five teams lined out, but Argentina Azul’s chances were dashed in the first round when Josefina Beacon’s 12 faults with Tempranillo Etoile were followed by elimination for both of her team-mates Delfina Bugliotti (Corado) and Milla Bettiga (Dougan). It was Chile’s Maria Clara Silva Tagle (SL Scorpion), Isidora Cañas (RB Coralina), Guillermo Garin (Red) and Benjamin Fuente-Alba Vignola (Dalida) who finished just off the podium when collecting 30 faults.
And team gold medallist Emilia Demattei, made it an Argentinian double in this category when scooping the Individual title. This result was all the more remarkable for the fact that the 13-year-old rider was competing with a horse she hardly knew.
“Carlazo Cooper is not my horse. I only rode him three times before the show and actually I was not very confident! Normally I’m very cool and calm, but today before the final class I was a bit nervous. At the end everything went well and I ended up being the only one without faults!” she explained. ”My trainer is Julian Pirichinsky and I ride at City Bell Club in Buenos Aires. I want to thank my whole familiy, my mother and all the crowd here. I loved the show and don’t ever want to leave!”, she added.
Silver went to Brazil’s Carolina Souza Chade (Corbella Jmen) who finished with a one-point total. This 14-year-old rider competed at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, USA earlier this year where she was a member of the Brazilian team that finished third in the Children’s Nations Cup. It took a jump-off to decide bronze however when three riders were tied on a four-point total and it was the only clear against the clock that clinched it for Pedro Henrique Martins Kuhlmann (Carry Girl Jmen) who, like Souza Chade, had been a member of the bronze medal winning Brazilian team.
A single mistake proved costly for Maria Luiza da Silva Martha (Wonder Z) while Argentina’s Avril Rosso Cuaino (Air Queen) produced the quickest time but collected 12 faults.
Pre-Juniors
Brazil also took gold and silver in the Pre-Junior Team and Individual competitions. There were five nations in the contest for the Team medals and there was a thrilling two-way jump-off for bronze.
It looked very much like gold was going the way of Brasil Verde’s Marcello Tadeu Sandes Da Costa (SL Speeder ll), Raphael Halaban (Dito van de Rispen), Giovanna Lara de Freitas (Samur) and Laura Bosquirolli Tigre (Cher da Boavista) when they led with just a four-fault scoreline at the end of the first round. But it was their colleagues from Brasil Amarelo who overtook them for the title when Thales Gabriel de Lima Marino (Coudeur Jmen), Gabrielle Fontoura Berger (Quite Capitano), Marcelo Gozzi (Cathaar Z) and Andre Fonseca Moura (Uniroyal de Thieusies) added just a single time fault to their first-round total of eight. Brasil Verde lost their grip when both Sandes da Costa and Halaban returned eight-fault scorelines at their second attempt which ensured their side finished up on a final tally of 12.
Meanwhile Chile’s Benjamin Matias Hammersley Maldonado (Amerikano), Valentina Rodriguez (Abracadabra), Carmen Novion (Haras Dona Ines Jager Boy) and Xavier Varela Armendariz (Zoe), were very much in contention at the halfway point on a nine-fault scoreline but, after adding eight more in round two, they moved on to a total of 17. This left them on level pegging with Argentina Branca’s Rocio Vazquez (Quito Devil), Lautaro Martin Borsotti Lugo (Henry Jota Isadora), Gonzalo Gattoni (Airflow Z) and Stefano Urtubey (LP Romulo Z) so the two sides battled it out in a third-round showdown, with Chile’s faster time of 35.54 seconds clinching the last place on the podium.
In the Individual Final it was a two-way tie between Brazil’s Laura Bosquirolli Tigre (Cher da Boavista) and Giovana Lara de Freitas (Samur) while Bolivia’s Karen Boos Pegler (Cipriari) and Samuel Salaues Nacif (Quetzacoatl Simonetri) shared third spot. But Bosquirolli Tigre’s consistency with her 10-year-old chestnut mare gave the 14-year-old the Individual title ahead of fellow-Brazilian and team gold medallist Marcelo Gozzi (Cathaar Z) while Chilean team bronze medallist, Carmen Novion (Haras Dona Ines Jager Boy) claimed the bronze.
Bosquirolli Tigre said, ”in 2015 I was South American Children’s champion in Argentina with the same mare Cher da Boa Vista, I am very happy. This title isn’t the result of this weekend, but since I started to ride and now makes it all worthwhile. My teacher is Cristiano Quadros for six years now and I ride in Porto Alegre since I was four. I thank my parents Antonio and Carla, who are always supporting me a lot, my trainer Cristiano, groom and all who are in Porto Alegre and could not come to this event.”
Juniors
The Junior Team competition was a clear-cut affair, with Brasil Verde’s Lucas Teixeira Lima (Alpha Condor), Bernardo Braga de Albuquerque Pereira (Valtellina do Rioacima), Laura Ramos Rait (MD Quastor Jmen) and Victoria Junqueira Ribeiro de Mendonca (Una Bella 9) heading the three participating teams at the halfway stage on a one-fault total and then signing off for the title when adding just four more to their scoreline.
Brasil Amarelo’s Filipe Baratella Risi (Vancouver de la Vaux), Pedro Malucelli Egoroff (Wangu Cooper), Nicolle Pantoja Margeotto (Chap Lando Z) and Paulo Roberto Brasileiro Miranda (Dijon JC) were lying second going into round two with 10 faults on the board. And they held on to silver medal spot despite adding 13 more when the three-member Argentinian side of Josefina Rico (Entrerriano Jr), Iara Veron (Contendra) and Maria Pilar Ganzabal (NM Colina Yatay) added 24 more to their first-round 26-fault tally.
It was Paraguay’s Silvana Cabral (Toulouse) who won the Junior Individual Final competition ahead of Brazilian team gold medallist Victoria Junqueira Ribeiro de Mendonca (Una Balla 9) in second and Uruguay’s Lupe Valente (Gama Picasso) in third. But it was Junqueira Ribeiro de Mendonca, who never touched a pole all week with her 12-year-old Holsteiner mare, who reigned supreme, taking gold ahead of fellow team gold medallists Braga de Albuquerque Pereira who took the silver and Ramos Rait in a host nation whitewash.
Newly-crowned Junior double-champion, 17-year-old Victoria Junqueira Ribeiro de Mendonça who was a silver medallist in the same category last year, was delighted with her result.
“I was last to start (in the Individual Final) and normally I’m very calm when in I enter the ring. So I think that helps me a lot especially in such an important championship. My mare Una Bella is 12 years old and I have been riding her for one year now, since then she is only giving me joy. We had several achievements, I’m very happy!”, she said. And she was quick to thank her support crew. “I’d would like to dedicate this first title to my parents Gerard and Susana who always support me, my trainer Artemus Almeida, my vet Priscila Azevedo, my groom and our whole team.”
Young Riders
Brasil Verde’s Pedro Moura Carvalh (Boomerang VH Kluizebos), Iury Giumaraes Borges (August Utopia), Maria Vitoria David Ludwig (Gizelle van de Watering) and Yasmim Almendros Marinho Santos (Piaf de Quintin) were out in front at the halfway stage of the Young Riders Team competition when counting just eight faults. However even though anchor rider Almendros Marinho Santos completed the only double-clear of the competition, the side was left vulnerable by second-round elimination for Guimaraes Borges so when they had to add 16 from first-line rider Moura Carvalho then their final tally of 24 faults dropped them to silver spot.
Waiting to pounce were the Argentina foursome of Santiago Orifici (Voloma), Santiago Brandolino (Clon Cooper), Marina Campi (Resistire Piam) and Lihuel Gonzalez (Checa Z) who added just eight to their first-round total of 13 for the gold. Brazil Amarela’s Andre Joao Bacchi (Eye Catcher), Rafael Rodrigues Moderno (El Santo), Giulia Dal Canton Scampini (Keep on Fighting) and Anna Victoria De Lorenzi Campelo (Fleur de Vauxelles) were well in contention at the halfway point, their 12-fault first round leaving them just ahead of the eventual winners. But when they had to add three eight-fault results second time out their final total of 36 was only good enough for the bronze.
Argentina’s Lihuel Gonzalez had eight faults in the first round before going clear second time out in the Team event. And the 19-year-old who was competing at his fifth South America Championship and who had two team silver and a team bronze medal already in his trophy cabinet before arriving at this year’s edition, added both Team and Individual gold this time around. He topped the Individual Final competition ahead of Brazil’s Giulia Dal Canton Scampini while fellow-Argentinian, Martina Campi slotted into third. And it was Campi who clinched Individual silver behind Gonzalez in the final analysis, as the host nation had to settle for the Individual bronze earned by Almendros Marinho Santos.
After his double-gold success, Gonzalez was more than pleased. “South American Young Rider champion is my main conquest up to now. I train with Martin Dopazo on my stud Haras La Pasion. I’ve always dreamed about this and want to continue riding and be a professional rider. I want to thank all my staff and friends and also the Brazilians who received me as if I were at home”, said the Argentinian rider who, with seven Grand Prix victories already under his belt in his home country, is clearly one to watch in future years.
Perspective
Caio Sérgio de Carvalho, Brazilian team chief and Brazilian Equestrian Federation showjumping Coordinator and Organiser talked about these Championships from the perspective of the host nation.
“Some years ago we made a plan focusing on this championship and practically contesting all titles. Since then other countries also started this work, so we also have to improve. Now we have new plans for next year – after each cycle you have to stop and review what has been done and how we can improve for the next competition. Overall the competitions are becoming more difficult but I think the new generation of Brazilian equestrianism is doing well. In the Junior class, for example, a few years ago we did not have much choice to form a team, but this time we had to leave out some great riders. We now have a strong base for the future of our sport”, he said.
Results
Young Rider Team Championship: Gold – Argentina 21 faults: Voloma (Santiago Orifici) 12/9, Clon Cooper (Santiago Brandolino) 5/4, Resistire Piam (Martina Campi) 0/4, Checa Z (Lihuel Gonzalez) 8/0; SILVER – Brasil Verde 24 faults: Boomerang VH Kluizebos (Pedro Moura Carvalho) 27/16, August Utopia (Iury Guimaraes Borgs) 4/Elim, Gizelle van de Watering (Maria Vitoria David Ludwig) 4/0, Piaf de Quintin (Yasmin Almendros Marinho Santos) 0/0; BRONZE – Brasil Amarela 36 faults: Eye Catcher (Andre Joao Bacchi) 12/16, El Santo (Rafael Rodrigues Moderno) 0/8, Keep on Fighting (Giulia Dal Canton Scampini) 0/8, Fleur de Vauxelles (Anna Victoria de Lorenzi Campelo) 12/8.
Young Rider Individual Championship: GOLD – Checa Z (Lihuel Gonzalez) ARG 9.35; SILVER – Resistire Piam (Martina Campi) ARG 10.27; BRONZE – Piaf de Quintin (Yasmim Almendros Marinho Santos) BRA 10.85.
Junior Team Championship: GOLD – Brasil Verde 5 faults: Alpha Condor (Lucas Teixeira Lima) 1/4, Valtellina do Rioacima (Bernardo Braga de Albuquerque Pereira) 1/0, MD Quastor Jmen (Laura Ramos Rait) 0/4, Una Bella 9 (Victoria Junqueira Ribeiro de Mendonca) 0/0; SILVER – Brasil Amarelo 23 faults: Vancouver de la Vaux (Filipe Baratella Risi) 4/8, Wangu Cooper (Pedro Malucelli Egoroff) 4/4, Chap Lando Z (Nicolle Pantoja Margeotto) 2/5, Dijon JC (Paulo Roberto Brasileiro Miranda) 4/4; BRONZE – Argentina 50 faults: Enterriano Jr (Jesefina Rico) 6/10, Contendra (Iara Veron) 9/8 NM Colina Yatay (Maria Pilar Ganzabal) 11/14.
Junior Individual Championship: GOLD – Una Bella 9 (Victoria Junqueira Ribeiro de Mendonca) BRA 0; SILVER – Valtellina do Rioacima (Bernardo Braga de Albuquerque Pereira) 8.47; BRONZE – MD Quastor Jmen (Laura Ramos Rait) 12.38.
Pre-Junior Team Championship: Gold – Brasil Amarelo 9 faults: Coudeur Jmen (Thales Gabriel de Lima Marino) 8/8, Quite Capitano (Gabrielle Fontoura Berger) 4/1, Cathaar Z (Marcelo Gozzi) 0/0, Uniroyal de Thieusies (Andre Fonseca Moura) 4/0; SILVER – Brasil Verde 12 faults: SL Speeder ll (Marcello Tadeu Sandes da Costa) 0/8, Dito van de Rispen (Raphael Halaban) 0/8, Samur (Giovanna Lara de Freitas) 5/0, Cher da Boavista (Laura Bosquirolli Tigre) 4/0: BRONZE – Chile 17 faults: Amerikano (Benjamin Matias Hammersley Maldonado) 8/4, Abracadabra (Valentina Rodriguez) 8/4, Haras Dona Ines Jager Boy (Carmen Novion) 0/4, Zoe (Xavier Varela Armendariz) 1/0.
Pre-Junior Individual Championship: GOLD – Cher de Boavista (Laura Bosquirolli Tigre) BRA 4; SILVER – Cathaar Z (Marelo Gozzi) BRA 5.57: BRONZE – Haras Dona Ines Jager Boy (Carmen Novion) 10.05.
Children’s Team Championship: GOLD – Argentina Blanca 0 faults: Du Noble (Richard Kierkegaard) 0/5, Carlazo Cooper (Emilia Demattei) 0/0, Air Queen (Avril Rosso Cuaino) 0/0, Walterstown Cruise (Lautaro Peña Bruno) 4/0: SILVER – Brasil Verde 4 faults: Espectacular do Xapuri (Mariana Xavier Scomparin) 4/0, Wonder Z (Maria Luiza Da Silva Martha Vieira) 0/0, Figo van de Kruishoeve (Juliana Salles Amaral de Almeida) 5/0, Macarena Tok (Lys Katherine Park Kang) 0/0: BRONZE – Brasil Amarelo 5 faults: Carry Girl Jmen (Pedro Henrique Martins Kuhlmann) 0/4, Corbella Jmen (Carolina Souza Chade) 0/0, Duka M (Rui Flavio Guiao) 8/1, Poete de Preuilly HDC (Matheus Riginik Ferreira Sant’ Anna) 4/0.
Children’s Individual Championship: GOLD – Carlazo Cooper (Emilia Demattei) ARG 0: SILVER – Corbella Jmen (Carolina Souza Chade) BRA 1: BRONZE – Carry Girl Jmen (Pedro Henrique Martins Kuhlmann) BRA 4.
More from Horse Sport:
