It has taken 71 years for a Spanish equestrian to return to the top of the podium at the Mediterranean Games. Carlos Bosch ended the wait in Taranto, Italy, by winning gold in the individual final of the 20th Mediterranean Games and becoming the second Spaniard in history to achieve this title.
Until now, the only Spanish triumph in the individual event bore the signature of Carlos López-Quesada, who won with Tapatío at the Games held in Barcelona in 1955.
The Spanish delegation concluded its participation in Taranto with an outstanding performance, featuring a silver medal in the team competition and a historic individual gold for Bosch.
The Cadiz-born rider achieved glory with Jolie van der Berghoeve KAR, the mare with whom he is enjoying the greatest successes of his sporting career. A triumph that also rewards the career of a true grafter in this sport: a rider who has progressed step by step, overcoming obstacles and carving out a path to reach the elite.
The final was marked by equality. Three riders reached the end without faults after their four appearances in the arena, which forced a jump-off to decide the three medals. In that final battle, Bosch and Jolie van der Berghoeve KAR were the fastest among the three pairs who kept a clean sheet.
Thus the gold put the finishing touch to a historic final for the Spanish rider, who returned Spain to the top of the individual podium at the Mediterranean Games more than seven decades later.
Bautista Rodríguez Debray, riding Vivoulette, and Pello Elorduy, riding Champenoise de Rampan, ended up sharing tenth position. Both riders finished with a total of eight
