Southern equestrians galloped home in style in 2018

THE chairperson for South African National Equestrian Schools Association (Sanesa) Sedibeng, Helen Griffin, is one proud lady when looking back at the members’ performances in 2018.

She said: “I, along with my committee are thrilled to announce the 2018 Sanesa year ended on a high at the annual national competition held at Kyalami Equestrian Park in October last year. Altogether 38 high and primary school riders from the Sedibeng region received Gauteng colours and competed in 73 classes. Competition was stiff and there were some 40 odd riders per class, so it was no mean feat to achieve 41 places overall, which included five first, five second, six third, and six fourth. In addition, Laer Volkskool Heidelberg placed second overall, against schools from all the provinces.”

Four Sanesa Core League qualifiers are held each year. Riders are spoiled for choice and may compete in a number of events, including various jumping, dressage and showing type classes. Riders who qualify according to the Sanesa selection criteria will receive Sedibeng regional colours and compete at the Gauteng inter-regional competition. The top 12 qualifiers per class then make up the Gauteng teams, who will all compete at nationals against the other provinces.

Riders at all levels are welcome to join, from youngsters on lead-rein to special needs on and off lead-rein, to advanced. In addition, riders registered with discipline associations may qualify for grading points.

New bona fide learners from schools in Sedibeng are invited to join Sanesa this year, including home-schoolers and pre-schoolers. Please note registration for both horse/pony and rider is free. These are the steps to follow in order to register riders:

Step 1: Establish whether the school is registered with Sanesa. If so, make contact with the school equestrian representative. If not, ask the school to register on the website (www.sanesa.co.za), stamp and finalise the school registration form and submit it to Sanesa.

Step 2: Register the rider on the Sanesa website.

Step 3: Register the pony/horse on the Sanesa website. Rider and horse/pony details need to be updated annually. Parents register their own horse/pony while riding establishments will register school ponies.

Step 4: Join the Sanesa Sedibeng Facebook page.

All four qualifiers will be hosted again this year by Penbritte Equestrian Centre in Alewynspoort, Eikenhof. The venue boasts both grass and sand/fibre arenas, a licensed restaurant, and a safe children’s play area. For riders’ convenience, stables are available for hire on both days of the competitions, including overnight.

Entries have already opened for Qualifier 1 on February 9 and 10. Enter on the website, which closes two weeks prior to the competition. No late entries.

For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.

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