Equestrian PH raises P1.3M for Red Cross

After missing the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games, Filipino riders from Equestrian Philippines found a meaningful way to be productive and share their blessings.

Over P1.3 million in donations were raised by the Ride For Life, the second leg of the Equestrian Philippine Indoor Championship Series 2019 and 6th Manila Polo Club (MPC) Show Jumping Competition recently in Makati City.

According to Equestrian PH president Carissa Coscolluela, the funds raised will go straight to the Blood Samaritan Program of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), which covers the blood requirement of indigent patients in need of transfusions.

“This event pushed riders not only to do well inside the ring to win for themselves, but also to excel in the name of helping suffering humanity,’’ said Coscolluela, also a governor of the PRC.

Twelve-year-old rider Minxie Romualdez raised the highest donation of P350,000 from family, friends and other supporters after competing at Ride For Life aboard her grey pony Magic Mio and the MPC’s Galaxy.

In the competition proper, Paola Lorenzo proved unstoppable in the 1.20-meter class series aboard Rubis Landais while likewise finishing second in the 1.10-meter class aboard Happy Cooper behind Lara Zobel, who posted a clear round aboard grey mount Lander Bijsterveld.Lillian Tang grabbed the top honors aboard Salta de Belleme in the 1-meter class of the meet backed by the Philippine Sports Commission while Egyptian expatriate Mohamed el Akkad again ruled the 0.90m class with Cooper.El Akkad bested Xavier Virata on J’Adore and Andi Santos on Payett dela Sapiae while young rider Alex Ynares-Villalon on Unchti du Banney came in first in the 0.75m class, followed by promising young rider Aaliyah Lalonde on Odeon du Marey and Frances Poblete on Rumanda.

Comebacking rider Amanda de Guzman ruled the 0.65m class aboard Upsylon, followed by Poblete and Lalonde. The introductory class saw two up and coming young riders, Anda Lagdameo and Isabella Felix, post clear rounds.

The course for the competition was designed by French rider and trainer, Thibault Trassard, who conducted a weeklong clinic for the riders prior to the competition.

Trassard has been a regular trainer of Filipino riders, including Iñigo Zobel. INQ