Junior riders took advantage of the CDI setting in Vilamoura, Portugal, on 10 - 12 April to obtain their first qualification scores for team selection for the 2015 European Championships. Manuel Vinagre won the team and individual test while Miguel Castelo took the kur. Only two Young Riders rallyed in Vilamoura to contest the classes in their division.
Aboard the 10-year old buckskin Lusitano bred Almansor (by Riopele) the 15-year old Vinagre scored 65.045% in the team test and 67.456% in the individual, leaving Miguel Castelo and the 16-year old Hanoverian gelding Weserprinz (by Weserstar x Wendenburg) to steal victory in the Kur to music with 70,225%
“I was very excited about my success at Junior level, not just for the win but for achieving scores beyond what I had expected," Manuel told Eurodressage. “On Friday I had the help of Jose Antonio Garcia Mena, who trains with one of my coaches Rafael Soto. He gave me some very good advice on how to relax the horse and activate him before the test. The horse was very relaxed and willing on all of the days."
Bred by Manuel Braga, Almansor is a horse with an extraordinary personality. Manuel has been riding him for a bout a year and a half. Manuel primarily trains with Pedro Vicente, who helped him a lot in understanding the horse and creating a bond with him.
“Another person who has also been very important for me in getting to this level was Rafael Soto, who helped me understand the ways of training passed down from Nuno Oliveira.”
Manuel’s plan for this year is to produce some more tops scores and hopefully be selected for the Europeans.
The winner of the Junior Kur to Music, Miguel Castelo, says he and Weserprinz have been training hard since the last national championship and they can finally see the results.
"Last month at the Barcelona Dressage Tour we had a good performance and this show was a nice debut for us on the international circuits," says Miguel. "In Vilamoura we again achieved good results, and I feel it is a consequence of our hard work."
Young Riders' Duo Neck to Neck
Maria Ines Valenca Cancio and Xeque Mate were the winners of the team and Individual Young Riders tests with 63,737% and 65,746% while fellow country mate Goncalo Diabinho and Uige took out the Kur with 64,900%.
“In the first two days I felt the horse available, focused and with energy,” said Maria. “However on the last day I was a little more nervous and that passed to the horse, but he always tried to give his best for me in every exercise."
Her bay Xeque Mate is a 12-year old Lusitano bred by Quinta da Cerca. According to Maria he is quite smart and very dedicated to work.
“I have owned him now for over 3 years and my next goal is to do a Grand Prix test with him later this year. I hope to achieve that with the help of my family and my dressage trainer Daniel Pinto," she stated.
Victorious in the Kur, Gonçalo Diabinho and his 14-year old Lusitano bred Uige (by Zamorino x Neptuno) scored 64.900% with a freestyle designed by Gonçalo's trainer Filipe Canelas and himself.
“I was happy with the victory because it was the first international I have done and the second test with my new horse Uige," said Gonçalo. "I felt that my horse went really well, despite the windy weather on the first day. I think this horse has a fantastic attitude.”
The year 2015 will be one of learning and integration into international competitions for Gonçalo.
“My aim will be selection for the European Championships in Vidauban,” he confirmed.
by Sarah Warne - Photos © Astrid Appels - No Reproduction Allowed
Eurodressage's Astrid Appels took photos of all riders competing in the CDI Vilamoura. If you are interested in photos, contact us by email with your name and the name of the horse.
Related Link
Eurodressage "On the Scene" at the 2015 CDI Vilamoura