19 August 2011 – The Rolex One to Watch for July 2011 is Italian rider, Antonio Alfonso. Based at the Castello Stables in Rome, Italy, the 33-year-old jumped from number 368 to 218 during July – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 150 places.
The Rolex One to Watch is an initiative which identifies the rider who has made the biggest jump within or into the Top 250 of the Rolex Rankings the previous month.
Born in Sora – a little town near Frosinone in central Italy – on 13 January 1978, Alfonso started to ride some of his uncle’s horses when he was five-years-old. He first competed when he was 13.
Alfonso’s first trainer was Carlos Dodero, an experienced Jumping rider and trainer who has competed for Argentina in the Pan American Games and the FEI World Equestrian Games. Alfonso has also been trained by Duccio Bartalucci, silver medallist at the Mediterannean Games in Split in 1979. Currently he works very closely with Natale Chiaudani, who shares the same sponsor. Chiaudani has competed in five FEI Nations Cups and won the silver medal at the Italian Championships in 2009.
From 1 January 2011 Alfonso has ridden in 21 official Jumping competitions, both nationally and internationally. He has been in magnificent form, recording nine victories, seven second places, and nine third places.
Alfonso’s most successful international placings since 1 January 2011 have been at CSI3* Arezzo (ITA), CSIO3* Lisbon (POR) – scoring two third places and a double clear in the Nations Cup, CSI4* Bourg-en-Bresse (FRA), and CSI5* San Patrignano (ITA). These results have allowed him to climb 150 places into the Top 250 of the Rolex Rankings. He is now on the list of nominated entries for the FEI European Jumping Championships in Madrid (ESP) from 13-18 September 2011.
Alfonso admires Germany’s Marcus Ehning, and Michel Robert of France. He lives in Rome with his wife, Stephanie.
For details online featuring the Rolex Rankings please click here.
August’s Rolex One to Watch will be announced at the beginning of September 2011.
• Rolex Testimonee Eric Lamaze (CAN) is currently ranked number one in the Rolex Rankings and therefore holds the Green & Gold armband which bears the words “Number 1, The Rolex Rankings”.
• Marcus Ehning (GER) was the first rider to be awarded the ‘Green & Gold’ in December 2009. Eric Lamaze shall wear it in all competitions whilst he is the Number 1 ranked rider on the Rolex Rankings.
• The Rolex Rankings are the only official guide to excellence in Jumping recognised by the FEI, and the Green & Gold has been devised for equestrian fans at events and watching on TV internationally to instantly recognize the world’s best/leading rider.
• The Rolex Rankings are updated monthly and issued at the start of each calendar month. For more information on the Rankings and to download the latest standings please visit the Jumping section of the FEI website at www.fei.org.
For further information please contact:
Rod Kohler, Revolution Sports
Email: rod@revolutionpr.co.uk