Endurance riders in focus for awards

IZOLDE 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.