Toni Leviste rides to victory in France
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:53:00 09/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Filipino equestrienne Toni Leviste piloted her young mount to a near-flawless performance and ruled the recent International Jumping Competition in Dinard, France.
Atoning for her failure to pre-qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Leviste bested a field of 70 other riders for the championship aboard her prized 7-year-old mare “Batangas Magic.”
Sketchy competition reports said the 35-year-old daughter of former Batangas governor Tony Leviste topped the young horse category for up-and-coming mounts who are potential Olympic and world bidders.
Leviste has trained Batangas Magic at the family ranch in Lipa City since the horse was five and believes she has found a “perfect partner” for future international competitions.
“A rider is only as good as his or her horse,” Leviste said.
“After Beijing, it is clear that in order for our country’s athletes to compete on the world stage and have a fighting chance at a medal, our national sports associations, government agencies and the athletes must dedicate their life’s passion to the pursuit of Olympic glory.”
Philippine Equestrian’s chef d’ equip Rep. Carissa Coscolluela said the sport is where Filipinos have historically excelled in, citing Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski’s golden effort at the 2002 Busan Asian Games and the victory of the RP Team, composed of Juan Ramon Lanza, Joker Arroyo, Jaworski and Toni Leviste, at the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games.
Coscolluela said she has written Philippine Sports Commission chair William Ramirez to consider equestrian as a priority sport in the nation’s quest for medals at the 2012 London Olympics. Steve Silva, contributor
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