Victoria Park strikes gold
VP’s equestrians the top EP team at finals
THE Victoria Park High School Equestrian team emerged victorious in the Sanesa (South African National Equestrian Schools’ Association) League, which is a national sports’ league, at the regional finals prize-giving in Port Elizabeth at the weekend.
In the Eastern Cape, the Sanesa Core League (Dressage, Show Jumping, Equitation and Showing) is run in two regions: EP, and Border. VP won the EP chapter of the league and was also the highest scoring school in the Eastern Cape.
VP won the Show Jumping, Equitation and Showing trophies and was runner-up in Dressage, which was won by Woodridge College.
There were several commendable individual achievements.
Kelsey Hunter was placed second in the horse/rider combo (Core League) on her horse, Proper Fox, first in working riding and third in performance riding. Kristen-Lee Harrington, on Wild West, attained third place positions in both the horse/rider combo and in equitation, and second in the working hunter and show jumping categories.
Melissa Pettitt on her horse, Misty Bay, came third in show jumping, and Julia Powell on her horse, Trinity, received a third position in the newcomer categor y.
Eventing is considered the ultimate test of the horse-equestrian partnership as it requires the team to compete in showjumping, dressage and cross-country. Both horse and rider have to be immensely fit, agile and courageous.
Donnell Goldberg, the teacher in charge, said the team was working enthusiastically towards enabling many of their riders to compete at regionals next year, and hoped to do well at nationals.
“We are building up reserves from now as we look to have a strong team competing next year. We have raised a substantial amount of money already, but we still need sponsors to assist us in making the dreams of our riders come true,” Goldberg said.
Kristen-Lee Harrington, 17, the VP equestrian captain, said Kelsey had a good chance of doing well at the nationals.