Fairleads show-jumper clinches national title

Local learner Victoria Greyvensteyn and her thoroughbred mare, Sunny Park Classic Queen, ran away with top honours at the Toyota Easter Festival after an incredible final round on the Kyalami Park Club track on April 1.

Greyvensteyn skillfully guided Queen on the track and stopped the clock at 47.17 seconds after riding a double clear over 1.35m to win the SA Junior Grand Prix. She beat runner-up Hamza Minty and his horse, Callaho Conway, to the title.

Giorgia Scribante and her horse, Capital Crawford, rounded off the podium.

In the second round of the final, the Fairleads resident knew she had to go clear after her previous competitor incurred four penalties in her round. She rode accurately, kept a clean sheet and raised her fist in the air after the last hurdle to land her first junior open title.

“To win, I knew I had to go clear. I kind of messed it up with the last combination but when I went clear, I was shocked. It’s a big title to win,” she said.

An underdog going in the competition, the Ashton International College learner felt immense pressure because Queen was the only thoroughbred in her class. Most horses that compete at this level are warmbloods bred for jumping.

“I felt the pressure. It was nerve-wracking,” said Greyvensteyn.

She knew it took one horse to win and decided to focus on herself. In the end, she rode a double clear and was the only one in her class to keep a clean sheet.

“I’ve gotten used to the pressure. You can’t win with all three. I don’t let it affect me. I focus on myself and avoid focusing on what everybody else is doing.”

The 17-year-old rider is enjoying a good year in show jumping. She came second at the President’s Cup earlier this year, which paved the way for her first national trophy at the Easter festival.

Last year, she competed in the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). She ranked first in Zone Eight and third in the world.

She described her title as a big career achievement and that the win is special.

“It’s a big achievement. I’ve stayed humble and focused on the next thing. It felt special to win it because it was my first time in the 1.35m class,” she said.

Greyvensteyn started riding at the age of four at Crystal Ridge until she was in Grade Four. She then moved to the world-renowned Nicola Sime-Riley’s Sunny Park Stables where her development took off, thanks to Sime-Riley and coach Sue Mesa.

“I’ve always been competitive. Whatever I do, I want to be good. I don’t want to be average at anything because the average is just not good enough.”

She said her four-and-a-half-year bond with Queen is ‘insane’, adding the thoroughbred is the best teammate in the world.

Her mother Lucy expressed immense pride saying, “It was her first show and she knocked it out of the park. I’m proud.”

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ALso Read: Showjumping is her first love