Ruperto Valderrama

Ruperto Valderrama Miranda was a Chilean rodeo rider.

Ruperto Valderrama
Born	April 17, 1930 San Fernando, Chile
Died	June 5, 2021 (aged 91)[1] San Fernando
Other names	Don Rupa[2] The Pelé of the croissants
Awards	1962 National Rodeo Championship 1963 National Rodeo Championship 1965 National Rodeo Championship 1967 National Rodeo Championship 1968 National Rodeo Championship

Biography

Many Chilean rodeo experts have classified him as one of the best riders in history, and in the 1960s he was known as "The Pelé of the Medialunas."^[3] He was an illustrious citizen of San Fernando.^[4]

In San Bernardo in 1940, together with Ramón Álvarez, he won his first championship; that triumph marked him for the rest of his life, as he never got off his horses again. He won the National Rodeo Championship five times, along with Ramón Cardemil, who was his partner for twenty-one years, and won four bronze condors as best athlete.

He is also considered the greatest horse setter in history, thanks to his five national titles on horses he settered alone.^[5] He touted as a unique achievement in Chilean rodeo the fact that he had settered all the champion horses, a feat unprecedented and unmatched in the national sport. His horse "Manicero," along with "Reservado" and "Talento," are the only horses to hold three national championships.

He died on June 5, 2021 at the age of 92.^[1][6]

National Championships

Year	Team	Horses	Score	Association
1962	Ramón Cardemil	"Manicero" and "Matucho"	19	Curicó
1963	Ramón Cardemil	"Envy" and "Venganza"	18	Curicó
1965	Ramón Cardemil	"Manicero" and "Matucho"	22	Curicó
1967	Ramón Cardemil	"Percala" and "Pelotera"	24	Curicó
1968	Ramón Cardemil	"Manicero" and "Trampero"	29	Curicó

Third Championships

• 1955: with Ramón Cardemil, riding "Sambo" and "Posturita" with 19 points.