Braving the cold at the DSA Challenge
Three learners from Hoërskool Bekker recently competed not only against the best riders in the province but also in ice cold weather and strong winds at the DSA Challenge.
Three learners from Hoërskool Bekker recently braved the ice cold weather and strong winds to give their all during this year’s Dressage South Africa (DSA) Challenge.
The DSA Challenge was started as a way to give riders the opportunity to compete on a national level, without having to travel to compete. Instead two judges travel to each of the South African provinces to judge the competitors.
The scores are collated into one national schedule so riders can see how they fared against riders from other provinces as well.
On August 14 and 15, three Bekker learners, Caleb Venter, Odile Kleinhans and Marizelle van Wyk who ride for HT Equestrian competed at Eaton Farm. The competition was supposed to be in July, but it had to be postponed due to lockdown regulations.
This year’s DSA also had a few changes and each rider in each level had to first ride a qualifying round, which determined the top 40 per cent of the riders. These riders then proceeded to the actual Challenge class which was held on the Sunday.
The rest of the riders competed in consolation classes, and only the top two riders in the challenge class were selected for the Gauteng team for the DSA Challenge.
In the Junior Prelim category Caleb rode Sarahdane’s Tattiana and they finished first in the warm-up class, first in the qualifier, and second in the Challenge class. This means that Caleb and Tattiana are Gauteng team representatives for the DSA Challenge 2021.
Odile rode Banners Legacy and they finished second in the warm-up class, fifth in the qualifier, and second in the consolation class.
Marizelle rode Pharoah’s Forum and they finished third in the warm-up class, third in the qualifier, and first in the consolation class.
In the Junior Novice category Caleb rode Queen Josephine, and they finished fourth in the warm-up class, third in the qualifier, and fourth in the challenge class.
In this category Caleb and Josie form part of the DSA challenge.
In the Junior Elementary category Caleb rode Azanian Giant, and they finished third in the warm-up class, third in the qualifier, and third in the consolation class.
