Equestrians from near and far saddled up their horses and galloped to Ermelo to compete in a barrel racing competition on 12 December.

The competition was hosted by the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) at the Barnyard Venue just outside Ermelo.

NBHA South Africa was started with an initiative to grow barrel racing as a sport in South Africa, to provide riders with an opportunity to compete and represent South Africa on an international level.

NBHA is the gateway for barrel racers in South Africa to compete in major events all over the world.

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS HERE: GALLERY – Equestrians have barrels of fun at Barnyard

The NBHA South African component is a registered NPO and all funds raised goes back to its members in the form of prizes and to grow the sport in South African with youth programmes and clinics.

120 entries were received with 83 equestrians and horses entered to strut their stuff on the day.

The results for the different categories and divisions were as follow:

Open
1D 1st – Marishcke Groenewald
1D 2nd – Ruben Vorster
1D 3rd – Tilani Groenewald
2D 1st – Wilru de Vries
2D 2nd – Delarutz van Wyk
2D 3rd – Jean-Mari v Schalkwyk
3D 1st – Megan Lourens
3D 2nd – Judith Wentzel
3D 3rd – Melissa Olivier

Youth
1D 1st – Ruben Vorster
1D 2nd – Carli Huber
1D 3rd – Delarutz van Wyk
2D 1st – Bismark Jansen
2D 2nd – Surika Struwig
2D 3rd – Kaylin Joubert
3D 1st – GS v Wyk
3D 2nd – Pedri Pienaar
3D 3rd – Juanita du Plessis

Adult
1D 1st – Johan de Jager
1D 2nd – Lohan Tereblanche
1D 3rd – Oubaas de Jager
2D 1st – Marius Vermeulen
2D 2nd – Megan Lourens
2D 3rd – Estiaan Smit
3D 1st – Lee Groenewald
3D 2nd – Sarelize Pienaar
3D 3rd – Charlene Oosthuizen

PeeWee Lead Rein (16 and younger – assisted)
1st – Delia van Rooyen
2nd – Janika Oosthuizen
3rd – Jani Oosthuizen

Peewee (16 and younger – unassisted)
1st – Tegan Smith

Senior
1D 1st Oubaas de Jager
2D 1st Zonya Beukes

Ms Charlene Oosthuizen, managing director, who initiated NBHA South Africa and who is currently an active driver and organiser of the NBHA South Africa, thanked all the equestrians who came out in their numbers to compete and also thanked the sponsors, who she said make these type of events and competitions possible.