Florida Teen Wins Best Individual Junior Rider during Final Leg of Competition in Ecuador
Daniela Stransky, the 15 year old equestrian from Stransky’s Mission Farm who champions the children’s charity Step by Step Foundation, piloted her gelding Ikarus to the Junior Jumper Best Individual Rider Medal during the final weekend of the 2011 FEI Americas Jumping Championships held in Guayaquil, Ecuador from July 26 to 31, 2011.
More than 85 top young show jumping riders, ages 12 to 21, came from over a dozen countries including Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Canada and the United States to compete at the prestigious international competition hosted by the Ecuador Equestrian Federation from July 26 to 31, 2011. Representing her native Venezuela for the first time, Stransky competed over double courses designed by Mrs. Marina Acevedo of Brazil on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The Miami Dade County High School student took top honors aboard her big gray Warm Blood and was the only rider from her country to compete in the high Junior division. She was awarded the individual gold for her efforts.
“It is an honor to have my daughter represent her native country,” stated Daniela’s mother Liliane. “We are so very proud that she had such success her first time here.”
Grand prix veteran Hector Florentino of the Dominican Republic trains Daniela and is also the head rider at family stables, Stransky’s Mission Farm in Wellington, Florida. “Daniela kept getting better and better as the days continued. The courses were set at 1.40 meters, and the competition included a bunch of very talented young riders. We are all very excited about Daniela’s performance, her results, and the future,” added Florentino, who will compete in the HITS-on-the-Hudson million dollar grand prix on Stransky’s Mission Farm’s bay gelding Ultimo in September.
FEI officials including Doris Fihman, Anabell Simon and Cesar Hirsh of Venezuela, Michell Temple of Brazil, Julio Carrasco and Ana Luis Sandobal of Ecuador as well as Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Argentina were also there to support the young riders during the Championship.
Sydney Masters