Emanuel Andrade and ZZ Top were part of the Venezuelan team that captured the Gold Medal following the Nations’ Cup team competition held November 28 at the 2013 Bolivarian Games in Trujillo, Peru. Photo courtesy of Emanuel Andrade

November 28, 2013 – Trujillo, Peru – Venezuela captured the Team Gold Medal following the Nations’ Cup team competition held November 28 at the 2013 Bolivarian Games in Trujillo, Peru.

The Venezuelan team comprised of Emanuel Andrade, Pablo Barrios, Luis Larrazabal and Andres Rodriguez took the Gold Medal over Colombia, who claimed Team Silver, and Peru, who won Team Bronze.

In Wednesday’s opening speed round, the Venezuelan riders had filled four of the top five placings, putting Venezuela firmly in the lead with a total of 2.59 faults heading into Thursday’s team competition.

In the two-round Nations’ Cup team competition, Luis Larrazabal was the lead-off rider for Venezuela, posting a score of eight faults riding Cosmea 14 which would prove to be the drop score. Pablo Barrios riding Zara Leandra was clear while Emanuel Andrade and Andres Rodriguez each produced scores of four faults each. Counting eight faults at the end of the first round of the Nations’ Cup, Venezuela remained in the lead with a total of 10.59 faults.

With the gold medal within their grasp, Venezuela returned to produce perfect results in the second round. Larrazabal, Barrios, Rodriguez riding Elatrice, and Andrade riding ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek all jumped the course without penalty, adding nothing to their score and giving Venezuela the Team Gold Medal.

Andrade, who is only 17 years of age, is making his debut on the Venezuelan Show Jumping Team at the Bolivarian Games. With his mount, ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek, a 12-year-old bay Zangersheide gelding (Zandor Z x Latus I) owned by Hollow Creek Farm, he produced a top five finish in Wednesday’s speed competition before posting impressive scores of four and zero in the Nations’ Cup team competition. A student in his hometown of Caracas, Andrade divides his time between competing in Venezuela and the United States.

Show jumping competition at the Bolivarian Games concludes on Saturday, November 30, to decide the individual medals.  Having won the opening speed phase and jumped double clear in the Nations’ Cup team competition, Pablo Barrios currently leads the individual standings with a score of zero faults.

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