The Criadero Vista Volcán team secured a direct entry into the final round of the 77th National Rodeo Championship, a significant achievement for the Chilean rodeo circuit. The success comes after a strong performance at the Los Angeles Zone South Qualifier.
Ricardo Alvarez and Miguel Parra led the Criadero Vista Volcán to victory with their collera of Golpe a Golpe and Pata ‘e Perro. The win allows them to bypass additional qualifying rounds and compete directly for the national title.
“I’m exceptionally happy, the horses performed very well,” Parra said. “It was a dream closing to the Qualifier for us. The results came, all three colleras qualified, we won and now we have a collera in the Rancagua Final. We had a good time with family; it was a beautiful Qualifier in every way. When God wants to give, he gives.”
Parra also expressed gratitude to those who supported the team. “I thank my teammate, don Ricardo Walker, and the entire Vista Volcán team, who have been working all year for this. Many thanks to them all.”
Alvarez acknowledged a moment of doubt during the competition but emphasized the unpredictable nature of rodeo. “At one point, we saw winning as a bit distant, but that’s how rodeo is – you don’t know who wins until the last bull is run,” he said. He also praised the overall performance of the horses. “The horses, in general, all three colleras, behaved wonderfully. I believe we did a very good job, and they arrived in very good condition. It’s a shame we couldn’t run the mare pair, as Sin Medida was slightly injured, so we’ll try to get her recovered for Rancagua. I’m happy that all three colleras qualified, we won, and now we’re directly in the Final – it’s a dream come true.”
Alvarez extended his congratulations to fellow competitors. “I congratulate all my teammates, the other jinetes, and all the criaderos who had a good performance and reached the top, because here most people leave more sad than happy. But it was a nice Qualifier, with healthy competition. I also thank everyone for their support – family, friends, and even people I don’t know who are fans of the criadero. I just seek to thank everyone and God for giving us this joy.”
He highlighted the collaborative effort behind the criadero’s success. “There’s function behind it; one just comes to add. These are all horses that have come with work from different trainers, different jinetes, and one comes more than anything to settle in and try to do what one believes is best. Thank God, I think a good job has been done. This is my second season, and at least last year we managed to run in the Chile Final, now we are in the Chile Final and showing more horses, so I think the work is being done well.”
“I thank don Ricardo for his trust, because in the finish I am the visible face, but without his support, this could not be realized. So I greet the people who support us, the families who are very important, very fundamental in all this, and all the friends who send us good vibes,” Alvarez added.
Alvarez reflected on past successes, recalling wins at the 2015 Lautaro and 2018 Pucón Qualifiers. “This is the third one, there’s also a second place, we’ve done something, but I’m happy, all victories are nice and are remembered with the greatest joy. These are moments that aren’t many that are given to us from above, but they are nice, so I am extremely happy.”
He described feeling more mature and composed as a competitor. “Much more mature, much more calm. It’s never effortless because everything isn’t perfect; there are always things, like the mare’s injury, the parents’ illness that appears with the passing of the years and are difficult things, but it catches me on a good foot. I think we are doing things right, every year is an experience, we are always willing to continue learning and trying to do our best. We must continue to move forward and try to keep doing things right, we must not stop in this, we must always be very involved and take care of the horses more than anything, because they are the ones who give us all these joys. We must always thank them too, because without good horses, this is very difficult.”
Parra also celebrated a previous win at the 2025 San Carlos Qualifier. “Last year we won, and now that it has happened again is very nice. And the year before I finished third, so I’m happy. The one above helps, so you have to thank God. It’s a dream to arrive at the final with a collera, you go more calmly, to enjoy Rancagua and trying to do your best.”
“For me, Vista Volcán is one of the largest criaderos, and for this to happen and to be able to perform well in Rancagua would be extraordinary. It’s a criadero that has always been in the fight, so it’s a pride to represent these mantas,” Parra concluded.
