Horse riders excel in Swakop

For more than half of Swakopmund’s history the RVS horse riding tournament has been ringing in the new year. Horses were an integral part of the establishment of Swakopmund, firstly as helpers, then as sporting entertainment. Hence the logical consequence would be the establishment of an annual riding tournament, the first one being held in 1957 and through the years turning into the largest equestrian tournament in the country. Over nine days 110 horse-and-rider combinations took part in the 57th annual riding tournament of the Swakopmund Riding Club (RVS). This was made possible by sponsors, many of whom have sponsored this tournament since the beginning. Joining the tournament for the first time were six riders from the Münchehofe area in Germany. Antje Leonhardt, Kenisha Pohl, Lisa Hoffmann, Stella-Marie Kehlenbrink, Kerstin Grosser and Kira Mier, with their Chef d’ Equipe Torsten Zellmer, joined this tournament on local horses lent to them after eight Namibian riders visited in Germany in September last year. This initiative was started by Jan-Pierre Habicht, a sports journalist and blogger of pferdefreunde.co and in communication with Holger and Silvia Kleyenstüber, they turned this exchange into what is becoming an annual institution with Namibian riders going to Germany again in 2015. This show brought much excitement for spectators, two-legged participants and their four-legged partners. Each event had its separate prize giving but at the final parade and prize giving it proved that consistency was the key to the trophies. Karin Schommarz on her horse Seeis Daniella took home the children’s dressage trophy. Sheena Dürr on Duneside Kiera belonging to Annette Freyer from Claratal went home with the prize for the most successful child rider in dressage and jumping on one horse. In the junior category, Laura Braune won the trophy for the rider with the most style. The same trophy in the adult category was taken home by Gesa Flemming. The course builder this year was Heiko ‘Bobby’ Wahlers, an IFE (International Equestrian Federation) three-star builder. This was a great honour for the riding tournament and made for unique and interesting courses for the participants. The new course and guest competitors gave all participants a taste of international competition, awakening dreams of an Olympic equestrian delegation from Namibia.