Cebu Equine Owners Breeders and Sportsman Association (CEOBSA) founding president Anton Quisumbing established himself as the first champion of the horse and cattle race of this year’s Kaamulan Rodeo Festival over the weekend at the full-packed grandstand of Malaybalay City in Bukidnon.
Quisumbing was doubly happy as he saw fellow Cebuanos Jun Minoza and Janice Paano coming out third in separate events.
Though he had been riding horses for quite a long time now, Quisumbing had never chased a cow in his life nor had seen an actual competition on horse and cattle race until last Saturday.
In the horse and cattle race, the riders had to chase a cow inside a contained area and get the ribbon attached near a cow’s head in a shortest possible time.
Being the last rider to race was something Quisumbing did not consider an advantage as he was so nervous. But as soon as he mounted on a borrowed horse from Mayor Mario Okinlay, there’s no stopping Quisumbing from claiming the historic title.
The big-hearted Quisumbing won the crown over a bunch of seasoned rodeo competitors in 30 seconds.
A day after Quisumbing’s big win, another noted Cebuano horseman, Jun Minoza, made his Bukidnon trip worthwhile as he bagged the third place honors in the open division’s barrel race. He bounced back from a slow start to gain a spot in the podium.
Paano, on the other hand, also placed third in the horse and cattle race.
The other Cebu bets in Malaybalay tiff were Karen Sanchez, Mike Merilles, and CEOBSA president Jake Mendez. Among those who backed up their trip include mayors Jonas Cortes (Mandaue), Butch Sepulveda (Borbon) and Dodo Plaza. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol