A Welkom sister and brother duo are proving to be a formidable team in the showjumping arena in South Africa. They achieved exceptional results at the South African National Equestrian Schools Association’s (Sanesa) national championships held at Kyalami Park Club in Midrand, which took place from 7 to 11 October.
Brother and sister duo a formidable pair
Both Karlien van Jaarsveld and her younger brother Hanno are proving to be formidable opponents on their trusted steeds, Victorian Melody and Storm Rider, respectively.
Karlien faced almost insurmountable obstacles when she suffered a knee injury during school sports and required surgery. Unable to ride for six weeks, she nevertheless soared against adversity and obtained brilliant results during Sanesa’s event.
“I thank BRS Equestrian Centre’s working rider Breeya Bortolussi, who maintained the training and fitness work with Victorian Melody to prepare her for the championships.”
BRS trainer and owner Belinda Basson says, “Karlien has been part of BRS and I have coached her for four years now. It was really tough as Karlien had basically ten days in the saddle to prepare for the SA Championships and learn all her test jumps.”
Her brother Hanno and his special pony Storm Rider performed brilliantly at Sanesa, Basson comments.
“Storm Rider has such a wonderful story. I found him on a rubbish heap when he was very young. I asked around and paid R500 for Stormy and brought him back to BRS. Stormy is really a rags-to-riches story.”
A perfect 10/10
Hanno and Storm Rider won the Working Riding Level 5 with a perfect score, obtaining 10 out of 10 for all obstacles.
“The judge informed Hano that he and Storm Rider were the only pair out of all the classes to achieve a perfect score,” says Basson.
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Hanno secured first place in Working Riding Champion Primary School Level 5 and was placed second in the Equitation SA Intermediate level, where competitors must ride other participants’ horses. Hanno rode beautifully and obtained scores of 18; 17,5; 18; and 18 out of 20 from the judges.
He also performed extremely well in the tough 90cm jumping classes, finishing third.
His other results included third in Working Hunter 80cm, fifth in Prix Caprilli B, fifth in Dressage B, seventh in Prix Caprilli A, and 11th in Jumping A2 90cm individual.
Hanno’s individual placing helped the Free State team achieve top positions against all nine provinces.
The Free State team secured three firsts
The Free State team secured three first places, two second places, one third place, and two fourth places.
Karlien also achieved brilliant results, becoming the Working Hunter 80cm SA champion at high school level against all nine provinces.
She came second in Working Riding SA Championships and also obtained 12th place in Equitation 90cm, 16th position in Dressage, 23rd in Dressage B, and 13th in Prix Caprilli.
Her individual scores helped the Free State team finish third in Equitation and fourth in Prix Caprilli.
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