This year, the XIV World Championship of Coleo was celebrated in Villavicencio, Colombia. Coleo is a spectators sport, similar to rodeo and autochthonous to the cattle raising region of Venezuela and Colombia. The event took place in the Manga de coleo Benedicto Cely, a purpose-built arena with a narrow pathway about 100 meters long and bleachers built on either side for spectators. It’s capacity is 10,000. The scene was charged by the musical presence of Orlando “Cholo” Valderrama, Latin Grammy winner for best Folk Album and Leidy Lara “La Negra Pulmon de Oro” known to her fans as the Golden Lung. We had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with these charismatic singers and song-writers of la musica llanera.
This year’s winner was 27 year old Ángel Rigoberto Zambrano Brito, son of the two-time world champion and 30 year veteran of the sport Ángel Rafael Zambrano Achagua. This family duo has been the protagonists of the most recent coleo championships. The youngest of this duo splits his love for the sport with his studies in engineering. The current champion was very proud of his horse ‘Mustang’ and his team Los Vaquianos. We were very fortunate to have some of the best seats an to be able to enjoy the local folklore and customs, an event full of passion, aguardiente ‘ventiao’ and some of the very best barbecued meat cooked over a spit over open fire!
Thank you team Aguila for your kind invitation.
