Swakopmund hosts Namibia’s elite

The cream of Namibia’s showjumpers will gather at the Riverside Equestrian Centre just east of Swakopmund for the weekend’s Swakopmund SPAR third leg of the 2017 FEI World Jumping Challenge and Youth Olympic Games qualifier.

Having won the World Final of the competition and winning bronze once, seasoned equestrienne Michelle Künzle will try to use her home turf advantage to emulate her successes of previous years. On her gelding Erongo Wilderness Mon Gold she faces a tough task in Category A over 1.20m/1.30m against Windhoek rider Nicole Becker on her fast and nimble Arab-cross HNSS Watani.

Also in with a fighting chance is Gymhana Club Windhoek rider Nadine Flemming on Seeis Shelton. She already has her certificate of capability and will try to officially qualify for next year’s Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Argentina. Reiterverein Swakopmund member Anike Maritz on her schoolmaster Poker la Silla is participating in the category A classes, also with the aim of a YOG qualification.

The two youngsters are part of the YOG development programme of the Namibian Equestrian Federation initiated a year and a half ago to promote junior athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 years and pave their way into international competition.

The YOG training camps under the experienced guidance of South African coach Dianne Snodgrass-Botes have brought about a close-knit group of dedicated young riders, who have not only improved their own skills, but have helped uplift the standard of showjumping in Namibia considerably.

Apart from the two category A participants, YOG rider Ariane Wieland and Callaho Brando (RVS) will have to work hard to ensure a placing with their current nine penalties and no drop-score in hand. Leading the category B competition is last year’s category C winner Kerstin Garbade on Voigtskirch Avatar with a clean slate and a time of 55, 58 seconds.

Breathing down her neck is Michelle Künzle on Locarno di Caprio, slightly slower, but with a drop-score in hand. Still in with a fighting chance too are Annette Künzle on Seeis Elton and Nadine Flemming on Seeis Eymet.

Category C of the SPAR 3rd Leg of the FEI WJCH over 1.10/1.20 m promises to be a highly competitive affair with a total of 20 entries. In this class five YOG riders, Ramona Röschlau (Gymkhana Club Windhoek), Linda Freyer (Nubuamis Riding Club), Jessica Kreiner (Reitgemeinschaft Otjiwarongo), Pia Gebhardt (Walvis Bay Equestrian Centre) and Elizabeth Rossouw (Okakambe Stables), will be vying for honours.

Leading the pack alongside 16-year-old Röschlau (Two Boy) are the experienced adults Gesche Gilchrist (Seeis Dansuelo) and Kordula Voigts (Zonjati Bon Gondolier). All three of them have had one leg clear and a drop score in hand. Also in with a good chance is medical student Laura Braune on Zonjati Bon Camillo on four penalties, but without a drop score to play with.

Apart from the FEI competition, the Riverside Equestrian Centre will also host the Club Team Showjumping and Club Team Dressage Championships, showjumping classes from 70 cm to 100 cm and dressage classes from Pony Rider Preliminary to Adult Novice and Elementary.

Competitions begin this morning with the FEI showjumping competitions and the Speed and Team classes to be ridden on Saturday and Sunday.