Home PageNewsJune 2026 - 06/2026Bolivia claims team title as Ecuador wins final competition at the 26th CISM World Military Equestrian Championship
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Bolivia claims team title as Ecuador wins final competition at the 26th CISM World Military Equestrian Championship

 

 

QUITO (ECU) – The 26th CISM World Military Equestrian Championship concluded on 6 June with an exciting final day of competition and a memorable Closing Ceremony that celebrated sporting excellence, military camaraderie, and the enduring values of CISM.

 

The championship's final sporting event was contested under FEI Article 221.4.3(ii) – Two Rounds, a demanding format combining a first round not against the clock and a second round against the clock, with the final classification determined by the aggregate results of both rounds. The competition provided a fitting conclusion to a week of high-level military equestrian sport, testing riders' technical skills, concentration, and ability to adapt to unfamiliar horses.

 

 

Competing before an enthusiastic crowd at the Army Equestrian School within the San Jorge Military Fort, military riders from 18 nations delivered outstanding performances throughout the day. After two challenging rounds, Ecuador's Major Edwin Valverde Varela produced the best performance of the competition to claim victory on home soil. Bolivia's Lieutenant Jorge Antequera Popespi secured second place, while Brazil's Sergeant Second Class Rafael Rodrigues completed the podium in third position.

 

The final competition reflected the increasingly strong performances of South American riders throughout the championship. Building on the momentum generated during the previous rounds, several athletes from the region featured prominently in the standings, highlighting the growing strength and competitiveness of military equestrian sport across the continent.

 

 

While Ecuador celebrated victory in the final competition, consistency across all three competitive days proved decisive in determining the overall championship classifications. Following the aggregation of results from the entire event, Lieutenant Jorge Antequera Popespi of Bolivia was crowned the 2026 CISM World Military Equestrian Champion. His compatriot Lieutenant Álvaro Miguel Guarachi Arenas secured the silver medal, completing a remarkable one-two finish for Bolivia. Romania's Patricia Maria Stoian claimed the bronze medal after another strong and consistent championship campaign.

 

The team competition was equally competitive throughout the week. After three days of intense action, Bolivia captured the overall team title, ahead of Romania in second place and Ecuador in third. The results reflected the remarkable consistency displayed by the Bolivian delegation across all phases of the championship and confirmed the nation's emergence as the dominant force of this year's competition.

 

 

Following the sporting programme, athletes, officials, military authorities, ambassadors, military attachés, CISM representatives, Heads of Delegation, and invited guests gathered for the Closing Ceremony. Medals and trophies were presented to the top individual riders and teams, recognising the exceptional performances delivered throughout the championship.

 

A special moment of the Closing Ceremony was the presentation of the “Friendship through Sport” Cup, sponsored by A5 Defence Magazine (A5 DM), a longstanding partner of CISM. The trophy was awarded to Ecuador in recognition of the outstanding spirit of friendship, fair play, mutual respect, and camaraderie demonstrated throughout the championship. The distinction reflects the values that lie at the heart of the International Military Sports Council and highlights the atmosphere of cooperation and goodwill that characterized the event from the Opening Ceremony to the final competition.

 

The award also served as a tribute to the dedication of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces, the Organising Committee, and all those who contributed to creating a welcoming environment for athletes and officials, further reinforcing the CISM motto: “Friendship through Sport.”

 

 

Through the outstanding delivery of the event, the quality of its sporting and logistical infrastructure, the dedication of its military personnel and volunteers, and the warm welcome extended to all delegations, Ecuador provided a remarkable example of how military sport can strengthen mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among Armed Forces from around the world. The award serves as a lasting recognition of Ecuador’s successful contribution to the military sports movement and its commitment to promoting peace and friendship through sport.

 

Addressing the participants, senior Ecuadorian military authorities highlighted the importance of the championship as a platform for integration, cooperation, and friendship among Armed Forces from around the world. On behalf of CISM, Lieutenant Colonel Jan Van den Dool expressed his appreciation to Ecuador for the excellent organisation of the event, praising the quality of the facilities, the hospitality extended to all delegations, and the professionalism demonstrated throughout the week.

 

The ceremony concluded with the lowering of the CISM flag and the symbolic handover to the host nation of the next World Military Equestrian Championship, marking the official end of a successful edition of the event.

 

 

As the curtain falls on a memorable championship in Ecuador, the international military equestrian community now turns its attention to the next major milestone on the CISM calendar. In 2027, military riders from around the world will reunite at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina, USA, the venue selected to host the equestrian competitions of the 8th CISM Military World Summer Games in Charlotte 2027. Renowned as one of the world's premier equestrian facilities and host of the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, Tryon will provide a world-class stage for the next chapter of military equestrian excellence.

 

Over five days of competition, the 26th CISM World Military Equestrian Championship once again demonstrated the unique spirit of military sport, bringing together athletes from around the world in an atmosphere of mutual respect, fair play, and friendship. As the riders and delegations depart Ecuador, they leave behind not only memorable sporting achievements but also stronger bonds between Armed Forces, looking ahead to Charlotte 2027 and another opportunity to showcase the CISM motto: Friendship through Sport.

 

Rewatch the final day of the competition here: 

 

 

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(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)

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