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.