Equestrian show in George
George Riding Club (GRC) saw 150 horses and some 500 people at this year’s FEI Discovery Western Cape Eventing Championship last weekend. The competition was once again successfully hosted from Friday 26 August until Sunday.
“It was a great honour for George Riding Club to once again host a show of this standard. It was a great success and lots of fun for all involved. We look forward to hosting more exquisite shows,” said GRC’s Paula Bronkhorst.
GRC, with its lush green facilities and top-quality arenas, is the only Garden Route show ground between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
Eventing is an equestrian triathlon consisting of dressage, show jumping and cross country, each presenting its own test for the horse-rider combination.
Dressage consists of a set of prescribed movements that are performed at or between markers, which are placed around the arena. Marks are rewarded according to how accurately, fluidly and precisely the movements are executed.
Cross Country is the most exhilarating test. Horse and rider are asked to gallop over undulating terrain while negotiating intimidating solid jumps like ditches, banks, drops and water, testing courage and accuracy.
The course must be completed within a
See more photos at
Alana Oosthuizen on Mount Olympus Tornado. specific time.
Show jumping tests the horse’s agility, suppleness and obedience over a normal show jumping course after the rigorous test of the cross country. This phase can often change the ranking order and thus is generally the most nerve-wracking part of the competition.
Category winners were:
95 ponies:
Winner: Iona Slingsby on Tatooine Legacy
CCN 1 star Juniors:
First: Georgina Gilfillan on Haiku
Second: Abby Hanes on Branic Cupi D’or
CCN 2 star Adults:
First: Bronwyn Pruett on Spark a Rhythm
CCI 1 star Adults:
First: Kimberly Cunningham on Pohlands Mia
Second: Gabriella Leighton on Forest Falcon
CCI 2 star Adults:
First: Daniela Smit on Fentano
Second: John Twomey on Peridot
The Comrades Marathon was back after two years and while some runners found it a lot harder than others, members of the Nedbank Running Club SWD showed what they are capable of. Kim Roberts had a great day, finishing second in the Great Grand Master category (70+). This was also Kim’s 10th Comrades Marathon and earned her a permanent number.
Altogether five runners achieved the Bill Rowan Medal for finishing between sevenand-a-half and nine hours - Sam Mandlazi, Cecilia Nel, Eddie Mouton, Eric Nangu, and Elmien Nel.
Benton Summers and Eric Nango also ran their 10th Comrades Marathon and earned permanent numbers.
Sam Mandlazi finished his first Comrades in an excellent time of 07:55:17 and vows to go back to run a silver.
Daniel Stevens, Edwin Lang, Kevin Levi, Wynand Pretorius and Eleen Thompson also finished their first Comrades Marathon.
Here is the complete list of
Nedbank SWD finishers:
Samuel Mandlazi 07:55:17 Male
Cecilia Nel 07:55:50 Female
Eddie Mouton 07:56:25 Male
Mnyamezeli Nangu 08:35:51 Male
Elmien Nel 08:58:03 Female
Joan van Wyngaard 09:04:56 Female Thembalethu Mona 09:21:49 Male
Nerida Lubbe 09:42:03 Female
Bevan du Plessis 09:48:39 Male
Gerald Jantjies 09:56:21 Male
Selwyn Losper 09:56:28 Male Benton Summers 09:58:25 Male Annelie Kruger 10:16:16 Female Frances van der Walt 10:19:39 Female
Diana Mouton 10:27:13 Female Edwin Lang 10:28:27 Male
Eleen Thompson 10:29:05 Female
Kaleo Fourie 10:30:05 Female Pieter Prince 10:49:14 Male Alison Jordaan 10:49:53 Female Wynand Pretorius 10:53:21 Male Daniel Stevens 10:56:09 Male Liezl Botha 10:56:53 Female Marali Olen 11:07:06 Female Kim Roberts 11:07:53 Female Elsabe de Klerk 11:16:09 Female Johann Visser 11:38:47 Male Una Saayman 11:43:31 Female Kevi Levin 11:59:18 Male