Namibian riders top at coast

THE Namibia Endurance Ride Association held their annual three-star FEI endurance ride in Walvis Bay recently – the largest internationally accredited FEI ever held in Africa.

An international veterinarian, technical delegate and ground jury were all part of the officials list. Four veterinarians from South Africa, along with four of their counterparts from Namibia, formed the veterinarian panel, of which Ian Baines, who is an international FEI vet, was the president.One hundred and thirty horses entered for the different distances, of which 75 entered the 130-km ride.A total of 67 of the 75 horses completed the ride.There were 32 riders from South Africa, five from Botswana, as well as two international riders from The Netherlands and one from Italy.The Namibian junior team consisted of Wanette Hanekom (captain), Kobus Jooste, Izolde von Schauroth, Pierre de Witt, Lauren Davidson and Barbara Wiesner, while Silke Bezuidenhout (captain), Armin van Biljon, Karel Grunschloss, Udo von Schauroth, Stefanus Pienaar and Hannelie Coetzee, turned out for the senior team.Namibian junior and senior teams were victorious in this ride.Under their manager and trainer Judie Wiese, they managed to beat South Africa.The world record for the 130 km seniors was improved by 26 minutes, when Naomi Muller from South Africa was the first to cross the finishing line.Udo von Schauroth from Namibia was second, and also improved the world record by 17 minutes.Lindi Liversage a junior rider from South Africa, was the overall winner, and also winner of the Junior category.Izolde von Schauroth was in second place.Armin van Biljon from Grootfontein was the winner of the heavyweight category.The 130-km route went over Dune 7, along the beach and lagoon.Riders had to get off the horses many times during the ride, as the sand was too soft and loose for the horses.This also helps to conserve the horses’ energy.At some stages at Dune 7, the sand was so soft that riders were on all fours to help their horses through the sand.Fierce sandstorms were experienced on the day of the ride, which made visibility very poor for the riders.The fittest horse senior trophy went to Naomi Muller on Darsi, and the junior fittest horse award went to Kobus Jooste and Bellissima.The trophy for horsemanship senior rider was awarded to Pauline du Plessis from South Africa and the junior horsemanship trophy to Wanette Hanekom from Namibia.During this ride, Namibia Endurance Ride Association (NERA) awarded their senior and junior riders of the year.Stefanus Pienaar was named the Senior Rider of the Year, and Izolde von Schauroth the Junior Rider of the Year.Kabous Roussouw was the Child Rider of the Year.The Namibian junior team is now preparing to compete in the Junior World Championships in Bahrain on December 17 this year.The team has been training for two months with a well-known fitness trainer, Quinton-Steele Botes.The Junior Namibian team to Bahrain will be as follows: Stefanus Pienaar, Karel Gruenschloss, Niel van Wyk, Izolde von Schauroth, Wanette Hanekom and Kobus Jooste.Judie Wiese will be accompanying them as manager.Four veterinarians from South Africa, along with four of their counterparts from Namibia, formed the veterinarian panel, of which Ian Baines, who is an international FEI vet, was the president.One hundred and thirty horses entered for the different distances, of which 75 entered the 130-km ride.A total of 67 of the 75 horses completed the ride.There were 32 riders from South Africa, five from Botswana, as well as two international riders from The Netherlands and one from Italy.The Namibian junior team consisted of Wanette Hanekom (captain), Kobus Jooste, Izolde von Schauroth, Pierre de Witt, Lauren Davidson and Barbara Wiesner, while Silke Bezuidenhout (captain), Armin van Biljon, Karel Grunschloss, Udo von Schauroth, Stefanus Pienaar and Hannelie Coetzee, turned out for the senior team.Namibian junior and senior teams were victorious in this ride.Under their manager and trainer Judie Wiese, they managed to beat South Africa.The world record for the 130 km seniors was improved by 26 minutes, when Naomi Muller from South Africa was the first to cross the finishing line.Udo von Schauroth from Namibia was second, and also improved the world record by 17 minutes.Lindi Liversage a junior rider from South Africa, was the overall winner, and also winner of the Junior category.Izolde von Schauroth was in second place.Armin van Biljon from Grootfontein was the winner of the heavyweight category.The 130-km route went over Dune 7, along the beach and lagoon.Riders had to get off the horses many times during the ride, as the sand was too soft and loose for the horses.This also helps to conserve the horses’ energy.At some stages at Dune 7, the sand was so soft that riders were on all fours to help their horses through the sand.Fierce sandstorms were experienced on the day of the ride, which made visibility very poor for the riders.The fittest horse senior trophy went to Naomi Muller on Darsi, and the junior fittest horse award went to Kobus Jooste and Bellissima.The trophy for horsemanship senior rider was awarded to Pauline du Plessis from South Africa and the junior horsemanship trophy to Wanette Hanekom from Namibia.During this ride, Namibia Endurance Ride Association (NERA) awarded their senior and junior riders of the year.Stefanus Pienaar was named the Senior Rider of the Year, and Izolde von Schauroth the Junior Rider of the Year.Kabous Roussouw was the Child Rider of the Year.The Namibian junior team is now preparing to compete in the Junior World Championships in Bahrain on December 17 this year.The team has been training for two months with a well-known fitness trainer, Quinton-Steele Botes.The Junior Namibian team to Bahrain will be as follows: Stefanus Pienaar, Karel Gruenschloss, Niel van Wyk, Izolde von Schauroth, Wanette Hanekom and Kobus Jooste.Judie Wiese will be accompanying them as manager.