Thursday, December 7, 2006

Talented rider makes speedy progress
Josey Samuel ,Deccan Herald

Seventeen years have passed since Ranvir Nanda had stepped into the Amateur Riding Club of Mumbai as a five-year-old boy. And this year he had grown from a mere rider to a medal hope. The reigning national junior show jumping champion from Karnataka had a decent outing in the World Jumping Challenge and National Equestrian Championship held at the Agram Grounds in Bangalore.

The 22-year-old on his favorite Royal Flame gelding showed good riding skills and technique in the debut year as a senior pro. “Until last year, I used to ride with seniors as a junior rider. But now things have changed after becoming the junior champion.

“I am counted among medal contenders and its a privilege. If me and the Royal Flame continue the form of this year then I could have finished among top three in the World Jumping Challenge, “ said Ranvir, who bagged the best national junior rider award in 2005.

Ranvir finished among the top ten but not within his aim of a first three finish. “The championship was tough as there is not much between the riders to differentiate. I hoped of a medal, but it all depend how the horse fares on the day. One refusal from horse and you can forget the medal. It’s the harmony between the rider and animal that decide the medal.

“Unfortunately my horse was not in full harmony with me this time,” said the bronze medalists at the CSI ‘Y’ International meet held in Kolkata in 2003.