Lorenzo named equestrian champ

Riding 13-year-old Selle Francais chestnut gelding named Rubis Landais, 20-year-old Paola Lorenzo took the overall championship crown in the culmination of a showjumping championship series which was organized by Equestrian Philippines, Inc., the country’s leading organization in equestrian sports. 

It was composed of three levels of jumping events held at the Manila Polo Club, with riders accumulating points per leg towards an overall championship title and category championship titles. 

Lorenzo, an Ateneo de Manila University management engineering student, showed great talent and skill in the 1.20-meter category, the most competitive level in the series. 

EquestrianPH president Carissa Coscolluela was optimistic 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, 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 1.10-m class. 

Camcam also took top honors in the 1.00-m 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 champion in the 0.90-m category, taking top place at all legs of the competition on 15-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding Cooper.