Times Of Swaziland: ESWATINI 4TH IN INTER AFRICA CUP

ESWATINI 4TH IN INTER AFRICA CUP
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BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO on 25/05/2019 11:12:00


MBABANE – They may not have been the best team but what a great maiden start
at the Inter Africa Cup for Eswatini.
Four young riders in Lia van Wyk, Chloe Thorne, Brendan van Kooten and Coral
Taman as well as adult Lara Emmett did well during the FEI Group IX Inter Africa
Cup 2019 held in Penbritte Equestrian Estate near Johannesburg.
This was from May 15 to 19 where the regional event incorporated riders from
Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe as well as
Eswatini. Lia was placed third in the Elementary Medium in dressage warm-up
classes and Chloe was just out the placings finishing 6th for show jumping.
Chloe was placed third in the Elementary dressage. For show jumping individual
championships, Brendan ranked seventh  in the Championship (in a class of 30)
and Chloe was just outside the placings. The team average was average 60.49%
placed fourth.
The Swaziland Equestrian Federation (SEF) Secretary General Sue Elsey confirmed
the results and said the SEF team of young riders had the privilege of
experiencing this year’s Inter Africa Cup. “Competition levels and pressure
were extreme for the young participants who competed in dressage and showjumping
disciplines,” she said.
While Brendan and Lara took their own horses, Faiths Final Impact and Woof,
respectively, to compete in their disciplines, Coral, Chloe and Lia rode on
borrowed ones that they selected the day before the competition. Elesy said this
raised the challenge of the competition for them but provided an invaluable
experience in competing in regional/international competitions.
challenge
She added that all team members rose to the challenge of the four- day
competition.
“It was an impressive effort from our dressage team with an average age of 17.
 While it should be noted that the extreme competition pressure of such a
prestigious event did negatively impact certain aspects of team members’
performance at times, only more exposure to these types of competitive
environments is going to improve their performance in their future equestrian
careers,” said Elsey.
She also highlighted that credit should also be given to Lara, who has had the
least away-show competition and does suffer from nerves before her competitions,
but she held it together well for her team and led the SEF team’s Dressage
scores throughout.