By REYNALD MAGALLON
Young riders impressed and took the spotlight in the third and final leg of the Equestrian Association of the Philippines (EAP) Championship Series at the Alabang Country Club on Saturday, March 14.
Up-and-coming equestrienne 14-year-old Amalia Aboitiz emerged as the big winner, claiming the top honors in the 80-centimeter and 1-meter national championships.
With her horse, Utopie Des Grezils, Aboitiz delivered a string of clean and quick runs throughout the three-leg championship series organized by the EAP in partnership with Alabang Country Club, and featuring the FEI Jumping World Challenge 2026.
Sophia Lacson, on the other hand, won the Newcomer National Champion 2026 award with her locally bred and trained horse, Silver. Interestingly, Silver, which played in its last show, got the fitting retirement after winning the national title.
Claiming the 1.10m national championship, meanwhile, was Martha Deila Joson along with her horse Un Chti Du Banney.
EAP President Michelle Barrera-Juban said the event was a huge step forward for Philippine equestrian especially with Aboitiz and Lacson already representing the country in the international level.
“I see a lot of potential in our riders, even at the grassroots level and I think to be able to have a national championship in the country encourages them to compete and then, we can compete overseas,” said Barrera-Juban.
Barrera-Juban, who was once a national athlete herself, also expressed gratitude for Alabang Country Club, headed by its chairman Sonny Coloma, for hosting the event.
The competition marked the historic return of the equestrian event to its polo field after two decades or since it hosted competitions during the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.
“One of the goals of Alabang Country Club under the new board of directors was to bring back horse events in the club,” said the country club’s sports and recreation manager Jose Maria Bautista.
“So we pride ourselves to become the country’s leading sports facility, country club, providing multiple sports facilities. And the only item, the only sport that was missing was horse events — polo, equestrian. We strive to be able to bring that,” he added.
