Galery

2

1

Emanuela Karastojanova

A couple of days after the Martini’s have been awarded the 2009 Public Contribution prize, I am standing in their home for the interview we have scheduled. It is a home, in the actual
meaning of the word- warm, spacious and welcoming- just like their hearts are. I realize how lucky I am to be here and meet these amazing people. Sitting in a comfortable couch, I go through the list of questions but all I can think about is how to stop the time- this is a place I wouldn’t want to leave.

Emilios and Alexandra Martini have four daughters. Natali is 20 years old and she is athlete in show jumping (in the past also in dressage), she is a member of the Equestrian Club of Athens and also rides in the  Mediterranean Equestrian Club. Right now she is studying Business Management and Equine Studies in Warwick College in Britain.

 
Prizes: Second champion in children class in Dressage in 2004, Winner with the most collected points in the Championship in 2004 in children class, she won the cup in children class in 2004, she took part in the finals of the International Championship FEI Challenge in dressage in Germany in 2004, winner with the most collected points in the competition B6 in dressage in 2005.

Monica is 18 years old and is a member of the Equestrian Club of Athens and also rides in the Mediterranean Equestrian Club.

Prizes: Second champion in the Balkan Championship for juniors in 2009, Second champion of the Greek Championship for juniors in 2009, the winner of the Balkan Championship (Amazon Team) in 2008, winner of the Greek Championship for juniors in 2007, took part in the European Championship for juniors in 2009.

Laura is 15 years old and she is athlete in show jumping and dressage and  
is a member of the Equestrian Club of Athens and also rides in the  Mediterranean Equestrian Club.

Prizes: Winner of the Balkan Championship in individual and team show jumping in  children class in 2009, winner of the Championship for dressage in children class in 2008, winner with the most collected points in the championship А3 for juniors in  2006.

Paola is 9 years old and is member of the Mediterranean Equestrian Club
GRREPORTER: First, I would like to ask you if you have expected the prize...
Emilios: No, not at all. We were quite surprised. The truth is that in the Greek ridding society most of the people know us. We have been in this sport for 10-12 years now and so have our
children. We try to help the ridding sport in Greece in any way we can. And one day we were told: “You know, we have decided to give the award to a family with a goal higher-minded than
others’, trying to show something really very good in sport and taking care of their family as well.” This is how we got at the award ceremony. When we received the letter we couldn’t
believe it. We were ecstatic. I thought to myself, “It’s impossible.” What I know is that I give my best to make things work.