Shongweni’s showjumping showpiece
THE cream of showjumping talent from South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe is on display at the first Shongweni Festival being held at the Durban Shongweni Club showgrounds until tomorrow, and featuring the FEI World Cup qualifier starting at 1pm today.
Top South African riders in action in this prestigious event, sponsored jointly by Land Rover Durban and FNB, include Jonathan Clarke, Mandy Johnstone, Barry Taylor and Ronnie Lawrence who will compete for honours in the World Cup qualifier.
St Mary’s DSG Kloof Grade 11 pupil, Hannah Garton of Hillcrest, who recently qualified to compete in the Youth Olympics to be held in Buenos Aires in October, will also be competing but a notable absentee is last year’s World Cup winner, Lisa Williams, and her horse, Vitality Campbell, who are currently competing on the international circuit in Europe.
Top of the list of festival highlights are the following events:
Today: 1.40m FNB KZN Outdoor Grand Prix and the 1.50m Land Rover Durban FEI World Cup Qualifier
The Shongweni Festival is co-ordinated by Jodi Wolhuter and Lorraine Peters of Highway Shows, a local equestrian events company.
Their vision to promote equestrianism in all its forms encompasses not only the riders and their horses but also the grooms who care for the horses, the coaches who contribute their expertise, the experts who design the courses and the sponsors of this enjoyable spectator sport.
The course designers for this Festival are Stefan Wirth (Germany) and Kate Launder assisted by Brett Webber.
There is a strong focus on providing opportunities for deserving development riders as evidenced by popular local jumper Eric Gaza from Mooi River whose long association with showjumping has seen him gradually make his way up the ranks.
Three local charities set to benefit from the Festival are SARDA (South African Riding for the Disabled Association), Mthatha Horse and Animal Rehabilitation and Rescue Centre and the Hilltop Honorary Officers – Rhino Watch.
Event organiser Wolhuter said: “Showjumping has traditionally been seen as an élitist sport and we aim to change this with our support of local charities and development riders.
“We are hoping to raise a large sum of money at this Festival which has been made possible by the overwhelming support of our riders and our sponsors, Land Rover Durban and FNB.”
One of the highlights of the Festival was the exciting crowd-pleaser, the Ride, Kick and Drive competition, which saw 10 invitational teams, each consisting of a driver, a rider and a groom, competing for R20 000 in prize money.
Thursday saw the staging of the 1.35m Baker McVeigh A2 Speed Class, the 1.40m Kawena A2 Speed Class and the 1.50m Hausberger Financial Services Cup, the latter producing nine clear riders out of a field of 33 which resulted in an exciting jump-off against the clock, namely the eventual winner, Tamara Rueda, along with Mandy Johnstone, Shaun Neil, Chad Cunningham, Jonathan Clarke, Oliver Bishop, Nicole Sime, Bronwyn Meredith Dos Santos and Graham Winn.
The first three riders, all from Gauteng, were 19-year old Rueda on JK Sporthorses Quantas 18 in a time of 46.64 seconds followed by runner-up Johnstone on Lambus (47.56) and third-placed Neil on Callaho Freedom (47.58).
Today sees the staging of the prestigious 1.40m FNB Rider’s Grand Prix Tour and the 1.50m Land Rover Durban FEI World Cup Qualifier while tomorrow sees the championship classes competing from 1m to 1.3m.