Four Maltese equestrian riders brought home impressive wins in their respective fields after taking part in the I Tappa Campionato Provinciale Dressage – Salto Ostacoli 2018 in Pedalino, Sicily. 

The Maltese riders taking part were given an intereting challenge at the beginning of the competition: the riders were given just one day to choose their horses and have a practice session before the competition began in earnest.

However, the Maltese delegation overcame this obstacle to make some impressive runs and win some of the tournament’s top prizes.

Claudio Borg won the Advanced Medium dressage category – one of the highest classes in the discipline in dressage.

Elaina Vella came in 1st place in the Elementary dressage category. 

Gina Curmi and Sabrina Demanuele placed second and third in the One-Metre show-jumping class, where they faced off against nine other international competitors. 

The group was accompanied by Beate Stüker, an experienced German instructor and judge who was part of the Maltese delegation’s mentoring team throughout the experience.

“To have such successful results in a foreign country, on horses we aren’t familiar with, was an unbelievable experience and quite challenging at the same time. The team is thrilled to have performed very well, and is looking forward to new opportunities in the future that this milestone will bring,” said Sabrina Demanuele, one of the successful competitors, to Lovin Malta.

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Johnathan Cilia

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]