Kingswood Junior School made an almost clean sweep at the Grahamstown Riding Club’s (GRC) first SouthAfrican National Equestrian Federation (Sanef) schools league show last weekend.
Kingswood Junior School made an almost clean sweep at the Grahamstown Riding Club’s (GRC) first SouthAfrican National Equestrian Federation (Sanef) schools league show last weekend.
In the dressage division, Kingswood Junior’s Taryn-Maie Wille won both prelim classes on Assegai’s Garrick with fellow Kingswoodian Jamie Kent taking second on her pony, Assegai’s Fold a Kiss.
Alison Knight on Assegai’s Retina R finished first in both novice dressage tests as well as in the 80cm showjumping league.
Megan du Preez on her pony Rocky II won the pony rider equitation welcome test with Taryn-Maie Wille second and Jaime Kent third.
Alison Knight won on the intermediate level and in the 60cm show jumping competition, Jaime Kent and Megan du Preez took first and second place.
Taryn-Maie won the pony rider 70cm competition and Alison Knight the 80cm competition. The schools league allows children to represent their schools in various equestrian disciplines,including show jumping, dressage, equitation and showing.
Pupils can advance through the Sanef schools’ qualifying shows to inter-regional shows, inter-provincial shows and finally international school competitions.
Kingswood Junior is the first Grahamstown school to join the Sanef schools league and it is hoped that other schools will soon follow.
“The team system emphasises the interests of the school over those of the individual and aligns with all our schools’ emphasis on team sports and recognition criteria,” said show convenor Kerry Longhurst.
Other Grahamstown pony riders that did particularly well over the weekend include Sarchen Gainsford on Assegai’s Solero who won both novice dressage tests and both 90cm showjumping classes.
Similarly, Cathera Cockcroft on Assegai’s Sox won both her prelim dressage classes and, along with Bridget Ford on Champion, achieved a double clear in the 70cm showjumping classes.
Cathera also came second in the best three-gaited pony. That class was won by Ruth Plasket on Silver Streak, who also scooped the honours in Show Pony and came second in the welcome equitation and best trotter classes.
Pat Pohl made a clean sweep in the adult novice and elementary dressage on Pohlands Velcro C and Midgard Sabrina respectively.
Her daughter Carey Pohl on Pohlands Lindomar won the 110/120cm showjumping competition. She also won the 130cm competition on Pohlands Witch Hazel.
Local rider Jess van’t Hof on Kiwi won the 110/120cm show jumping 2-phase competition while GRC developmentrider Daniel Swartbooi, riding North Breeze, won the 90cm class.
Ally O’ Donoghue on Assegai’s Canter won the 90/100cm showjumping Competition. Many other riders did extremely well in the weekend show. The GRC will hold its second 2010 show on 6 and 7 March.
