Riders celebrated at awards ceremony
"I am beyond proud to watch each of them grow not just as riders, but as true sportspeople."
Nine showjumpers from the Sunny Park Stables were honoured for their achievements in the past year at the South African Showjumping (SASJ) National and Gauteng Awards at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways, on April 14.
The riders, Aria Iswarlall, Jaimie Rile, Luzche Greef, Marlein Greef, Brian Mhangani, Lovemore Justin Reit, Warrick Sithole, Victoria Greyvensteyn and Sunny Park Stables owner and head coach, Nicola Sime-Riley, were celebrated for their exceptional show-jumping achievements last year.
Riley was the biggest winner, recognised for the PR high-performance rankings and also the PR show jumper of the year.
She was also recognised for her performances at the SA Open Championships and SA Derby and for winning the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) children’s silver tour.
Iswarlall was awarded the SASJ pony rider 80cm ranking, Gauteng pony rider 80cm overall team winners, SASJ national challenge 1m and the FEI children’s classics green tour winner.
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Luzche and Marlien were acknowledged for being in the junior 1.20m and 1.10m Gauteng provincial teams, while Mhangani received an award for winning the SASJ national 80cm title.
Reit and Sithole were awarded for being in the adult 90cm and 1m provincial teams, while Greyvensteyn was recognised for winning the Toyota SA junior derby, earning her Protea junior colours and competing at the Jumping Challenge final in Uzbekistan.
Sime-Riley, one of the best riders in the country, received recognition for topping 1.30m horse and rider rankings.
The rider expressed gratitude to her students for their commitment and hard work.
“It’s their passion, commitment, and perseverance that have brought them this far. I am beyond proud to watch each of them grow not just as riders, but as true sportspeople. Sunny Park Stables is more than a training ground – it’s a family.”
She invites those interested in horse riding to call her on 082 900 3067.
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