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Endurance riders in focus for awards
By: *ANETTE HANEKOMIZOLDE von Schauroth, who has been nominated for the award of Junior Sportswoman of the year, is an up-and-coming young Namibian endurance rider, who will do her best for her country at any given moment.
On January 23 this year, Izolde participated in an FEI Junior Young
Rider 100-km race near Boudthob, Abu Dahbi in the United Arab
Emirates.
She was riding a horse that she had only seen for the first time
on the morning of the ride.
For a 14-year-old girl to handle the competition in a strange
country, and on a unknown horse, is something that not all riders
can do.
In this race she came eighth out of 66 horses that competed.
On January 27, Izolde competed in the Senior World
Championships, a FEI 160-km ride.
This was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and was also the
first time that Namibia has ever sent an endurance team to a World
Championships.
Izolde was the youngest contestant in the race, and ended in
38th position out of 175 horses.
She was the only Namibian to complete this gruelling ride.
At the Independence 130-km FEI ride in Otjiwarongo, Izolde was
4th.
In May this year, she was second at the Namibian National
Championships at Savanna.
This was also a 130-km ride.
During August, she was a member of the Namibian team to compete
at Walvis Bay against South Africa.
She came second in this 130-km ride and the Namibian team was
able to beat South Africa.
Izolde also represented Namibia at Fauresmith in South
Africa.
She has been selected to represent Namibia at the junior Young
Rider World Championships in Bahrain at the end of this year.
Silke Bezuidenhout In with a chance for the award for senior
sportswoman of the year on October 28, Silke Bezuidenhout is an
excellent endurance rider.
She has been part of the Namibian Endurance Team numerous
times.
Silke has completed more than 9000 competitive kilometres on
horseback and is currently in 12th position on the World Ranking
list.
In January 2005, Silke was part of the Namibian Team to the
World Senior Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
After the World Championships she rode in the Presidents Cup
near Abu Dhabi and finished 15th out of 130 entries.
Riders from all over the world took part in this race, which is
considered the largest and most difficult FEI 160-km ride in the
world.
Silke also rode in the 120-km Sheik Rashid Cup near Nubai, where
she ended in 27th position out of 125.
This is a wonderful achievement for a Namibian rider to obtain
on an unfamiliar horse.
In Namibia she has had similar achievements, she rode in two
160-km FEI rides and ended 4th and 5th respectively.
At the Walvis Bay FEI 130-km ride, Silke was the captain of the
Namibian team and completed the ride in sixth place.
The Namibian team beat South Africa at this ride.
At local rides she has done her fair share of riding, and
received awards for best conditioned horse at five of these
rides.
The Namibia Sports Commission will host the sports awards at the
end of this month.
She was riding a horse that she had only seen for the first time on
the morning of the ride.For a 14-year-old girl to handle the
competition in a strange country, and on a unknown horse, is
something that not all riders can do.In this race she came eighth
out of 66 horses that competed.On January 27, Izolde competed in
the Senior World Championships, a FEI 160-km ride.This was held in
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and was also the first time that
Namibia has ever sent an endurance team to a World
Championships.Izolde was the youngest contestant in the race, and
ended in 38th position out of 175 horses.She was the only Namibian
to complete this gruelling ride.At the Independence 130-km FEI ride
in Otjiwarongo, Izolde was 4th.In May this year, she was second at
the Namibian National Championships at Savanna.This was also a
130-km ride.During August, she was a member of the Namibian team to
compete at Walvis Bay against South Africa.She came second in this
130-km ride and the Namibian team was able to beat South
Africa.Izolde also represented Namibia at Fauresmith in South
Africa.She has been selected to represent Namibia at the junior
Young Rider World Championships in Bahrain at the end of this year.
Silke Bezuidenhout In with a chance for the award for senior
sportswoman of the year on October 28, Silke Bezuidenhout is an
excellent endurance rider.She has been part of the Namibian
Endurance Team numerous times.Silke has completed more than 9000
competitive kilometres on horseback and is currently in 12th
position on the World Ranking list.In January 2005, Silke was part
of the Namibian Team to the World Senior Championships in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates.After the World Championships she rode in the
Presidents Cup near Abu Dhabi and finished 15th out of 130
entries.Riders from all over the world took part in this race,
which is considered the largest and most difficult FEI 160-km ride
in the world.Silke also rode in the 120-km Sheik Rashid Cup near
Nubai, where she ended in 27th position out of 125.This is a
wonderful achievement for a Namibian rider to obtain on an
unfamiliar horse.In Namibia she has had similar achievements, she
rode in two 160-km FEI rides and ended 4th and 5th respectively.At
the Walvis Bay FEI 130-km ride, Silke was the captain of the
Namibian team and completed the ride in sixth place.The Namibian
team beat South Africa at this ride.At local rides she has done her
fair share of riding, and received awards for best conditioned
horse at five of these rides.The Namibia Sports Commission will
host the sports awards at the end of this month.
