Braz, Nogueira, Antunes, Lopes, Vila Nova, Torres Win 2021 Portuguese Dressage Championships

Shows

2021 Portuguese Dressage Championships

Pony rider Francisco Braz, children ride Mariana Nogueira, junior rider Nicole Antunes de Silva, young rider Sebastiao Lucas Lopes, Under 25 rider Francisco Vila Nova and senior Grand Prix rider Rodrigo Torres became the winners of their respective divisions at the 2021 Portuguese Dressage Championships.

The Portuguese Nationals were held at the national state stud Alter Real in Alter do Chao and coincided with a CDI on 15 - 18 October 2021. Riders were allowed to compete in the CDI classes or national level tests for their Championship scores.

Youth Classes

There were just three pairs in the pony division and only two competed in all three rounds. The gold medal was for Francisco de Moura Braz on the rountinier Der Kleine Choco Boy, a Weser Ems pony by Der Feine Lord x Valentino. He scored 69.371% in the team test, 67.784% in the individual test and 73.640% in the Kur. Matilde de Araujo Fernandes and the 7-year old Portuguese bred Inca (pedigree unknown) landed silver with 63.114%, 60.838% and 65.760%

Six combinations competed in the children division, which was won by Mariana Nogueira Vaz on Com Tornado. She posted 71.446% in the preliminary test, 72.600% in the team test and 67.824% in the individual test to total 211.87 for the title. Manuel Abreu Clemente and the Swedish bred Double Madonna rode the CDI tour and landed the silver with 71.375%, 66.950%, and 70.301%, while the bronze was for Constança Vasconcelos aboard Fauno. She rode the national tests and got 65.768%, 70.225% and 68.236% to place third overall.

The well attended junior division with 11 combinations proved to be a match for new comer Nicole Antunes da Silva on the 7-year old Hanoverian Funji (by Funtime x Brentano II). She led all three rounds with 70.485%, 69.824% and 73.145% to finish with gold and stay more than three percent ahead of the runner-up, Manuel Antunes on the Lusitano Jackpot do Penedo (by Idolo). He produced three consistent rounds that earned him 68.545%, 68.647% and 72.825%. Francisca Monteiro and the 18-year old Hanoverian Invictus VF (by Rotspon) got bronze with 67.212%, 67.353% and 71.910%.

In the young riders class, Sebastiao Lucas Lopes and the 8-year old Lusitano bred Inquieto Lezirias (by Quixote x Fandango) bested the field of six for the title. He stayed more than 12% ahead of all the competition when he climbed the highest step of the podium after having scored 70.471% in the team test, 70.824% in the individual and 70.430% in the freestyle. Laura Teodoro and her 8-year old Lusitano Iji HP (by Jocoso) were the runners-up with 64.147%, 64.500% and 69.530%, while the bronze was for Marta Fernandes Marques on the young 7-year old Jardineiro (by Altivo), who posted 66.029%, 61.294% and 67.825%.

Grand Prix

The Under 25 division grew to seven combinations battling it out for the title. The favourite, Francisco Vila Nova and his Westfalian bred Sir Saburo (by Sir Donnerhall), fulfilled the expectations and wielded the axe of power. He scored 70.176% in the Intermediaire II, 70.795% in the Short Grand Prix and 75.00% in the Kur to claim the title and champion sash. Maria Eusebio Freire and the Lusitano Filosofo (by Lykeios.x Quixote) followed in the distance and got silver with 67.882%, 65.385% and 71.260%. Gonçalo Diabinho and the Lusitano Devoto (by Viheste x Joca) got bronze after posting 66.147%, 6(.410% and 72.045%

The highlight division of the weekend was of course the senior Grand Prix class. After a stellar year in which Portugal was represented by a team at the Olympic Games as well as the European Championships, the season closed with this national finale.

Several prominent GP combinations were absent though, including the Olympic pair Joao Torrao on Equador, Maria Caetano (pregnant) and Vasco Mira Godinho on rising star Garrett. Former Portuguese team rider Daniel Pinto tried to make a come back with Santurion de Massa at the Nationals but had to retire in the Grand Prix test.

There was plenty of room for Tokyo sensation Rodrigo Torres and the 11-year old Lusitano Fogoso Campline (by Rico x Raja) to thrive one more time this 2021 season and grab the gold. The pair scored 73.478% in the Grand prix, 74.638% in the Special and 79.315% in the freestyle. The silver went to team new comer and former U25 champion Martim Meneres on the 12-year old Lusitano Equador (by Peralta x Novilheiro). They easily placed second overall with 68.848%, 70.021% and 75.645% and underscored that their Hagen team spot was not a fluke. Fellow team rider Duarte Nogueira and the chunky Lusitano stallion Beirao (by Rubi x Joca) were good for bronze with 68.413%, 70.170% and 73.880%

Photos © ABR Fotografia

Results - 2021 Portuguese Dressage Championships - Alter do Chao

Pony Riders

1. Francisco De Moura Braz - Der Kleine Choco-boy - 69,371 67,784 73,640 --- 210.795
2. Matilde Caetano De Araújo Fernandes - Inca - 63,114 60,838 65,760 --- 189.712
Enzo Alem Reame - Apache - 58,200 57,743 RET

Children

1. Mariana Nogueira Vaz - Com-tornado - 71,446 72,600 67,824 --- 211.87
2. Manuel Abreu Clemente - Double Madonna - 71,375 66,950 70,301 --- 208.626
3. Constança Almeida Vasconcelos - Fauno - 65,768 70,225 68,236 --- 204.229
4. António Soares - Heroi Da Malhadinha - 64,768 69,025 66,537 --- 200.33
5. Lucas Lourenço Lopes - Irís - 66,232 66,700 64,611 --- 197.543
6. Lara Praxedes Carlos - Espanto - 60,589 63,250 67,343 --- 191.182

Junior Riders

1. Nicole Antunes Da Silva - Funji - 70,485 69,824 73,145 --- 213.454
2 Manuel Resina Antunes - Jackpot Do Penedo - 68,545 68,647 72,825 --- 210.017
3 Francisca Monteiro - Invictus Vf - 67,212 67,353 71,910 --- 206.475
4 Adriana Chaves - Zefiro - 67,364 67,765 71,070 --- 206.199
5 Mafalda Deitado - Bandolim- 67,879 67,471 70,210 --- 205.56
6 Guilherme Chaves - Don Top - 66,182 66,500 68,245 --- 200.927
7 Mariana Martins Da Silva - Gabarito - 64,879 65,353 66,330 --- 196.562
8 Claudia Silva Faria - Zamorim - 62,303 63,765 68,040 --- 194.108
9 Afonso Parreira - Aquiles Do Ilheu - 63,818 62,059 64,595 --- 190.472
Ana Trabulo - Hino - 62,333 59,941 DNS --- 122.274
Barbara Valadao Brasil - Maestoso Amena Ii - 59,636 - DNS - DNS --- 59.636

Young Riders

1. Sebastiao Lucas Lopes - Inquieto Lezirias - 70,471 70,824 70,430 --- 211.725
2 Laura Teodoro - Iji Hp - 64,147 64,500 69,530 --- 198.177
3 Marta Fernandes Marques - Jardineiro - 66,029 61,294 67,825 --- 195.148
4 Catarina Costa - Kut'n' move - 62,794 61,559 68,340 --- 192.693
5 Leonor Castro Nunes - Lilli - 64,324 63,500 64,525 --- 192.349
6 Afonso Morgado Sousa - Eliseo - 62,647 60,853 63,530 --- 187.03

Under 25

1. Francisco Vila Nova - Sir Saburo - 70,176 70,795 75,000 --- 215.971
2 Mário Eusébio Freire - Filosofo - 67,882 65,385 71,260 --- 204.527
3 Gonçalo Diabinho - Devoto - 66,147 65,410 72,045 --- 203.602
4 Mariana Assis Silva - Serano - 67,412 65,538 69,310 --- 202.26
5 Catarina Lucas Lopes - Excalibur - 63,441 65,974 68,775 --- 198.19
6 Maria Costa Lascasas - Guhapo - 66,647 63,359 66,145 --- 196.151
Catarina Lucas Lopes - Ferrolho - 64,559 62,462 RET/DNS --- 127.021

Senior Grand Prix

1. Rodrigo Torres - Fogoso Horsecampline - 73,478 74,638 79,315 --- 227.431
2 Martim Meneres - Equador - 68,848 70,021 75,645 --- 214.514
3 Duarte Nogueira - Beirao - 68,413 70,170 73,880 --- 212.463
4 Filipe Canelas - Fortuna - 69,826 69,277 72,745 --- 211.848
5 Joao Castelao - El Romana Plus - 68,087 68,468 73,235 --- 209.79
6 Georgina Rogers - Guiso - 65,130 69,043 71,365 --- 205.538
7 João Embaixador - Furacao - 64,261 65,915 66,350 --- 196.526
8 Sofia Costa - Espanto - 64,413 64,000 65,870 --- 194.283