The Dutch town of Kaatsheuvel has become the world epicenter for dog lovers these days. There, a very young athlete of only 14 years old, Manuela Blanco VargasHe is capturing everyone's attention as he represents Spain in the most demanding event on the international calendar for this breed. It is an adventure that not only tests his technical skill, but also the unbreakable bond he shares with his dog Yuma, his partner in the field.
This event, known as the WUSV Universal Sieger, is no ordinary competition, as it brings together the best dog-and-rider pairs in the world in a battle to prove which is the most balanced and functional specimen. The woman from Algeciras has reached this point after a dream season nationwide, demonstrating that age is not an impediment when you have talent and work hard under the pressure of high competition.
A ranking achieved through hard work
Manuela's path to the Sportpark Eikendijk facilities has not exactly been a bed of roses. She secured her ticket to the World Championships with complete authority after delivering a memorable performance in the Spanish Championship held in Santo Domingo de SilosAt that event, she not only won the runner-up position, but she also left everyone speechless by obtaining the highest scores in the tracking and obedience disciplines, which catapulted her directly to the national team.
What makes her story even more special is that she has become the youngest guide to reach such a competitive level. Despite her young age, Manuela has demonstrated a astonishing maturity compared to veteran guidesHe handled the timing and tension of the tests as if he'd been doing this his whole life. His progress has been constant, and this trip to the Netherlands is a just reward for a year in which he hasn't slowed down at any point.
What does the Universal Sieger exam consist of?
For those unfamiliar with the subject, the WUSV Universal Sieger is a rigorous test that evaluates the animal holistically. It's not enough for the dog to be beautiful or to be able to follow a scent; it has to be the complete package. The competition is divided into three intense days that combine the IGP work tests (tracking, obedience and protection) with a morphological assessment in which the physical structure of the specimen is analyzed.
The vv DESK stadium is the main venue where these abilities are tested, while the surrounding rural areas are used for scent work. It's a brutal physical and mental challenge for both dog and handler. The idea behind this format is to find the more complete and functional German Shepherd, one that maintains the working skills that made the breed famous without neglecting its physical and health standard.
Training many kilometers from home
The preparation of this young woman from Algeciras is all the more impressive given the logistical challenges she has had to overcome. Because there are few specialized high-performance training centers for this discipline in her immediate area, Manuela regularly travels to the Old Oak Club in Peñaflorin the province of Seville. Under the tutelage of Enrique Escobar, he has honed every detail of his technique to arrive in the Netherlands in the best possible condition.
Besides her purely sporting side, Manuela's family has strong roots in the south, specifically in Granada. Her father, Javier Blanco Coronil, is a familiar face in Granada football after his time with the youth teams of Granada CF and CD Santa Fe. family ties with Otura and AlhendÃn This makes it so that from Granada, every step the young woman takes in this World Cup is followed with special affection, feeling her successes as something of their own.
The race in Kaatsheuvel is not just the end of a season, but the start of a promising career for the Algeciras native. With the support of her family, her club in Seville, and her roots in Granada, Manuela Blanco Vargas and Yuma They have demonstrated that daily effort and a passion for the German Shepherd can break down any generational barrier. Spain now boasts an exceptional representative on the world stage who, regardless of the final outcome, has already made history by placing herself among the absolute elite of this demanding discipline.