Davao Horse Club joins Governor’s Cup in Cebu

The annual horse competition circuit of the Philippine Horsemen’s Federation (PHF) got off to a galloping start in Mandaue City (Cebu) on the last weekend of February with the holding of the Governor’s Cup, a horse show and competition sponsored by the provincial government of Cebu headed by Gov. Gwen Garcia.
On its third edition this year, the Governor’s Cup has become the official opener of the PHF annual activity, although Cebu horsemen under CEOBSA (Cebu Equine Owners, Breeders and Sportsmen’s Association) have conducted competitions there since 10 years ago.
From Cebu, the series goes next to Davao in April, then on to Malaybalay in May, Cagayan de Oro in August and finally in cowboy country — Impasugong, Bukidnon  in September. Lately, horsemen from Bohol and Bacolod have joined in the competitions, together with comebacking Ormoc.
The Davao Horse Club, despite being handicapped by the absence of many riders, mostly its younger ones who could not leave school for the competition, joined the Cebu fray anyway and ended up with a few wins after the dust settled.
Lone Davao equestrian, George Walter Misa, placed second in show jumping while his stable groom, Ronaldo Gonzales, riding in the Auxiliary Division, ruled the champion the barrel race and was second in the obstacle race. Misa and the other Davao expert division rider, 19-year old Koby Troy Tan, made good record times in their respective barrel and obstacle races in the Western games, but missed the cut this year. Co-host CEOBSA won the Governor’s Cup the second time in a row. It may be recalled that in 2008, the Davao Horse Club became the first Governor’s Cup winner. 
As in the past two years, the Cebu horse event, meant to upgrade horse breeding and make horse sport a tourism attraction in the province, was spectacular, starting off with a colorful opening parade joined in not only by horsemen from various cities in the Visayas and Mindanao in their distinctive uniforms but by gaily-decorated horse-drawn tartanillas as well representing different towns of the province.
Marching bands from various schools around Metro Cebu added to the vivid fiesta atmosphere. At the Awards Night at the Cebu International Convention Center on the evening of February 28, sparks flew literally, as the charming Governor Garcia, in immaculately-white riding gear, was introduced on the stage as sparklers were lit. A gorgeous band played dance hits and a five-minute fireworks display lit up the Mandaue night sky as the Governor’s Cup winner was announced. The Governor herself played the ever-gracious host to the visiting horsemen and women till past midnight.
The popular Davao Horse Club delegation was led by its president, lawyer Jeric C. Olaguer and his wife Luchie. Aside from the riders, they were joined by veteran rider Andrew Tan (sidelined by a hand sprain) and wife Chelo, Babes Spieler and Geraldine Valdevieso.