Namibian eventers triumph at Duneside

Youth coupled with experience led the Namibian team to a resounding victory at the Sanlam Africa Shield Eventing Series held on the newly-constructed and exquisitely designed eventing track at Duneside Equestrian Centre outside Gobabis last weekend.Under the watchful eye of coach Martina Barthel, the Namibian girls – Daniela Imhof, Danika Gogol, Laura Jakob and Emily Braune – and their experienced horses Rolling Thunder, Charming Gale, Kiara and Baron von Sphinxblick ended the three-phase event on 128.5 penalties, well ahead of Zimbabwe (209.1) and South Africa (232.5).The dressage test ridden on Saturday morning saw Team South Africa taking the lead following an outstanding performance by 11-year-old Adrienne Macdonald Hutchison on her pony Waterford Chocolate with 36.1 penalties, the second best score of the 21 riders in the individual EV80 competition. Tamara van Vuuren (Levi) with 37.8, Chené Smit (Carlisle Anuk) with 39.8 and Casey Lee Smit (Flika Speed) with 40.6 penalties completed the score of 154.3 and a lead of 8.8 over team Namibia (163.1).BORROWED HORSESTeam Zimbabwe, riding on Namibian horses, had to be content with a penalty score of 175.7, having had only one try-out ride before having to take their loan mounts through their paces.Excitement rose as riders and horses took to the cross-country track on Saturday afternoon, a track that proved treacherous for many a rider from the start.Following the first couple of individual rides and repeated announcements of “refusal at jump number one”, the team riders led by Namibian Daniela Imhof and Rolling Thunder were called upon to be especially careful. Imhof, carrying 40.8 from the dressage, did not disappoint. The 19-year old stallion that carried Annette Künzle over many a track in the past, was happy to take her through water, past a San village, navigate tree trunks and pop past windmills glistening in the sun without dropping a beat to finish on a clear in the time. Imhof's compatriots also had no difficulty with any of the jumps on the track, but had to cop a few time penalties each.The only other competitor to steer clear of jumping and time penalties in the cross-country was Katie Loubser, riding Duneside Gunner. The pair put in a blistering performance and pipped Imhof to the post for first place in the cross country. Loubser's team mates Erin Elliot (Claratal Seniorita) and Amber Morris (Two Boy) had one stop each, while Kylie Wright (Cheyenne) was eliminated.The South African team also had one elimination in 12-year-old Casey Lee Smit on Flika Speed, while Adrienne Macdonald Hutchison made it through with 84 penalties. Both Tamara van Vuuren and Chené Smit had no jumping penalties, but a few time penalties each.Next was the show jumping competition on Sunday morning where Namibia continued its excellent form. With four beautifully ridden clear rounds, the team bagged victory with a total of 128.5 penalties, leaving the other two teams to fight it out for second and third.Zimbabwe's three riders put in a spirited performance and despite eight jumping penalties for Loubser, four for Elliot and a time penalty for Wright, the team managed to secure second place with a total of 209.1 penalties.South Africa's Van Vuuren and Macdonald Hutchison had four penalties each in the arena, with Chene Smit adding another 12 to make it a total of 232.5 penalties for the team.In the individual standings, the experienced pair of Camille Detavernier and Amaar Shatina took first place in the dressage, Katie Loubser and Duneside Gunner won the cross-country and Emily Braune and Moritz won the showjumping.Overall winner of the competition was Namibian Daniela Imhof (Rolling Thunder) with a total of 40.8 penalties ahead of her team mates Laura Jakob on Kiara with 43.5 and Emily Braune on Baron von Sphinxblick on 44.2. Fourth on 46.8 penalties was Enya Kebbel on Tosca, fifth went to Danika Gogol on Charming Gale with 47 penalties and sixth to Michelle Leuschner on MMS Pretty Smart (49.1 penalties).The Namibian team will be travelling to Shongweni in South Africa's Kwazulu-Natal province next week to take part in the South African leg of the Shield Event, but will not be taking their own horses, thus having to rely on loan horses provided by the host nation.

Namibian eventers triumph at Duneside

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Republikein 2026-02-03

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Namibian eventers triumph at Duneside

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