Great turnout for FNB Equestrian Eventing Champs

The RVS (ReiterVerein Swakopmund) achieved a milestone in Namibia’s equestrian history with the first Eventing Championships held on the weekend of October 26 and 27. This discipline is known by the mature generation as a three phase event and was held on the new RVS Eventing Park grounds. Proudly sponsored by First National Bank, this event exceeded all expectations, not only in number of participants but also in the number of spectators, supporters and helpers. For the last 8 months, members of the Swakopmund Riding Club have been putting together the uniquely Namibian Cross Country obstacles for the visiting FEI (the international equestrian body) delegates to strategically place in the Eventing Park. Patricia Clifton, David Evans and Darryl Scaife, all from England, arrived to facilitate and officiate at Namibia’s very first event. This was also the dress rehearsal for the official FEI CIC* tournament which will be held in October next year on the RVS Eventing Park. After a week of coaching of delegates, helpers, course builders, judges and of course participants, the tournament began with the official veterinary check by Swakopmund’s own Dr Hartmut Winterbach. All 22 horses were cleared to start. The first of the three phases, the dressage, began on Saturday morning with riders competing in the category of the cross country and not in their usual dressage rankings. The dressage points were then added to the show jumping points of the afternoon. As Sunday morning dawned great excitement began as the cross country phase to centre stage. In the end the deserving winners took their rightful place. Final results: Children (70 cm): Tara Hein on Max Havelaar (Gymkhana Klub Windhoek) Junior/Adult Pre-Novice (80 cm): 1. Alexandra Roehl on Alpha So Cool (Gymkhana Klub Windhoek) 2. Ingried Kotze on Claratal Sherpa (ReiterVerein Swakopmund) 3. Sheena Dürr on Mahati (ReiterVerein Swakopmund) Junior Adult Novice (90 cm): 1. Michelle Kunzle on King Lu (Omaruru Reit Verein) 2. Kira Rohloff on Kahlua (Okakambe Riding Centre) Junior/Adult Intermediate (100 m/110 m: 1. Svenja Spaeth on Davetsaub Amor (ReiterVerein Swakopmund) Best presented horse at Vet Check: Holger Kleyenstueber & Rathmor Sapphire (ReiterVerein Swakopmund) WINDHOEK-SPORT REPORTER