Young Kyalami rider dreams of the Olympics
KYALAMI – Bianca Pitt proves unstoppable with her horses Bakato and Azur Goodtimes on the showjumping stage.
South African junior showjumping champion, Bianca Pitt (17) is soaring on cloud nine after an incredible year in which she reached the pinnacle of the sport in her age category and looks set to dominate the same division this year.
The SA junior rider of the year in 2018 is a hot favourite for the award for last year, and the Kyalami rider sat down with the Midrand Reporter to discuss her budding showjumping career.
Budding is perhaps not the best word to describe a career that is already reaching great heights.
On her horses Bakato and Azur Goodtimes, and three or four others, Bianca has earned plenty podium finishes recently, including third at SA Young Riders Championships and second, third and fourth on different horses in the Shongweni Youth Championships.
Her two lead horses also cleared both their rounds at the SA Championships last year and Bianca had to pick one to take to the SA Junior Champion title as they could not share it.
“We chose Azur Goodtimes as the SA champion because he is an older horse and we had set our minds on him last year to win. We will work on Bakato and the other horses more this year,” Bianca’s trainer, Chad Cunningham explained.
The veteran trainer described Bianca as a level-headed, determined and disciplined rider. She was well-prepared physically and mentally for the championships and not to sound boastful but she was in a different class to the other riders and deserved the win. It felt like everyone present at the champs thought so too.”
Bianca described the moment she became SA champion as special.
“I have been riding horses since I was two years old, since before I could probably walk,” she laughed. “I have been competing since I was six and competed at nationals since I was eight.”
Bianca is currently completing her A-levels and aims to study physics or maths overseas at Yale or Harvard universities.
Even if she does so, Bianca said she would not stop showjumping. “I will always ride. Maybe I can even compete at one of the upcoming Olympics.”
Bianca’s next big shows are the President’s Cup in March and the Easter Festival in April.
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