A successful FE I World Jumping Challenge was held ealier in August at the Gymkhana Club in Windhoek. The event started with the 70 cm, 80 cm and 90 cm to give riders a chance to experience and prepare in the future for the FEI events, where after the warmup events competition took place in categories A, B and C. The normal showjumping classes started the following day, followed by the official parade.
Thereafter the first leg of the category A started followed by the 1st leg of the category B shortly after the parcour was rebuilt by the chief course builder, Cord Cordes and his helpers. In category A the four riders had a clear round. The second round was cleared by Alexa Rack on Bodenhausen Carla, Michelle Künzle on Metzger Drilling Zambezi and Sylvia Snyman on Midgard Gigant.
Unfortunately Annette Künzle on Rostock Ritz Rolling Thunder, had one pole down, giving her 4 penalties. In category B three riders participated. Lara Knickel on Rostock Ritz Bonhomie had a clear as well as a pole, giving her 4 penalties for the first round. Franziska Leinberger on Adcon Camelot had penalties in both rounds, giving her a final score of 8 penalties.
Michelle Künzle
Charl Kotze on Kingsley Sherpa Claratal, had two beautiful clear rounds. In category C there were 11 starters and 8 clear rounds in the first round, while the second round had double clears from Ingrid Kotze on Kingsley Mr. Chips, Gerhard Fischer on Sandsturm, Beate Voigts on Salvano, Jolize Barnard on Spesbona Salem, Gero Talkenberg on First Born, Alexa Rack on Assegai Winter Dance, Sophie von Korff on Castro Neu Heusis and Martina Barthel on Soho.
Whilst the course was being rebuilt, a children’s competition organised by Theresa von Prittwitz took place, with all her enthusiastic scholars. On the Saturday evening prizes where handed over to the best turned-out horse chosen from the FEI participants.
The award went to Tanja Mack on Maximus Davetsaub. Alexa Rack and Bodenhausen Carla, came in second. The Sunday morning event kicked off early with the normal jumping classes. Thereafter category C started. There were only three clears, from Jolize Barnard, Alexa Rack and Sophie von Korff.
Charl Kotze
The overall winner was Alexa Rack on Assegai Winter Dance with a result of 0 penalties in the fastest time, followed by Sophie von Korff on Castro Neu Heusis with 0 penalties and Jolize Barnard on Spesbona Salem also with 0 penalties in third. All three riders were chosen to represent the Namibian Team. Category B round 3 and 4 saw Lara Knickel with two clear rounds.
Franziska was unfortunately eliminated due to the fall and Charl Kotze had a clear and 4 mistakes. The final results for category B were Charl Kotze (first) who carried 4 penalties but had a faster time. Second was Lara Knickel on Rostock Ritz Bonhomie who also had 4 penalties.
In category A there were three clears in the second round’s first leg from Michelle Künzle, Annette Künzle and Silvia Snyman. In the second round Michelle knocked off one pole. Annette also had 4 penalties and Silvia 8.
The overall win went to Michelle Künzle on Metzger Drilling Bodenhausen with an overall result of 4 penalties in the fastest time, followed by Silvia Snyman with 8 penalties and Annette Künzle, also with 8 penalties. These three riders also qualified for the Namibian Team.
The event was made possible with the support of FNB, International SOS, Absolute Logistics, Benthin African Agencies, Die Sattelkammer, Paco Engineering, Prosperita Commercial Cold Storage, Spes Bona Motors and SWA Safaris.
