Cojuangco rules Indian showjumping

Teenaged Filipina rider Danielle Cojuangco won the individual title at the CSIY (Concours Saut Internacional Youth) Young Riders Showjumping competition in Chennai, formerly Madras, India, last Jan. 4-6.

Cojuangco, 16, was the youngest and only female among 21 finalists in the seven-nation, 21-and-under meet sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation. She had four faults in the first round but none in the second to beat her closest rival from Australia.

It was the first international competition for Cojuangco, a Woodrose student whose parents are Mark and Kimi Cojuangco. She is the granddaughter of San Miguel Corp. chairman Eduardo (Danding) and Gretchen Cojuangco.

Cojuangco was joined by her sister Paola, 15, and Fil-British Lara Reynolds, 16, in the Philippine team. Coach Janine Santos accompanied the riders to India.

In the team event, the Philippines failed to qualify in the finals.

The participating countries were Australia, England, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iran, India, and the Philippines.

Horses were drawn by the riders in a lottery and it was the Filipinos’ tough luck to pick the worst of the lot. Despite the handicap, Cojuangco overcame the odds to win.

The Philippine riders arrive on Malaysian Airlines Flight 702 from Kuala Lumpur at 2:50 p.m. today.