Showjumper helps SA to bronze at world challenge
Victoria Greyvensteyn finished third behind the winner, Mirzahid Musaev from Uzbekistan, and runner-up Giorgia Anna Leromzzo of the Dominican Republic.
Fairleads showjumper Victoria Greyvensteyn was chuffed after helping SA to third place on her debut at the 23rd Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) World Challenge finals at the Universal Jumping Stables in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, last month.
Greyvensteyn, the youngest rider in the competition at 17, and Divan Bosman were the only showjumpers representing the country in the event, which included 20 competitors from 12 nations.
The riders drew a horse, which they were paired with for the week of the event, as per the competition rules. Forty-five minutes was allowed for flatwork and 90 seconds in the arena, with 10 jumps before the event started.
The Ashton International College learner started with a fifth-place finish in the qualifier after skilfully guiding her 10-year-old Polish gelding, Jodcasall A-Z, on the 450m course and stopped the clock at 69.21 seconds over 1.20m.
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She cracked the top three after the second qualifier when she and Jodcasall clocked 76.63 seconds and went clear in the jump-off in 37.38 seconds for third place.
In the first round of the final on October 26, she completed her circuit in 73.49 seconds, incurring four penalties, but made hay in the second round when she guided Jodcasall around the 440m course, which included 11 obstacles, in 68.32 seconds. That was enough to secure the country the bronze medal.
“Competing in Uzbekistan was the most amazing experience. I have made lifelong friends from all over the globe. The Uzbekistan Federation put on a spectacular show for the week, and I was extremely proud to be on the podium with the SA flag on the screen behind me,” said Greyvensteyn.
Local Mirzahid Musaev and his Dutch Sport Horse mare, Casamira, won the competition after the top qualifier, runner-up Giorgia Anna Leromazzo from the Dominican Republic and her Westphalian mare, Jangcy L, hit a pole in the final’s jump-off to hand 36-year old Musaev the victory.
Bosman and his horse, Queen, won another bronze for SA when they finished third in the farewell class, won by Uzbekistan’s Akbar Sharipov, with Singapore’s Christie Paige Nair in second.
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