Riding high at national level
"The weeks of effort that the children put in really has paid off, the early trips to events, the long days in the hot sun and the rain are now all well worth it"
MIDVAAL. – Thursday October 5 through to Sunday October 8 saw the 2017 SANESA national competition, held this year at KEP in Kyalami with every province in the country represented.
Sanesa is a national schools equestrian sports discipline comprising of all equestrian disciplines from dressage through to show jumping and attracted tens of thousands of entries from schools across the country.
There are four qualifiers a year in every district within the provinces of South Africa, the top achievers then go to compete in the regional qualifier and from there a team to represent the province is selected to then go on to Nationals.
Orchards Academy, a new private tutoring centre in Henley-on-Klip, with a heavy focus on horse riding, had huge success getting four riders into finals representing Gauteng: Ashton Cronin age 13 and Joshua James Neve (11) in show jumping at 70cm primary school and Megan De Langa (15) in 70cm equitation along with Christen Hogan (14) in 70cm show jumping.
This from only seven riders from the school entering.
“To make it to Nationals was the goal for our first year of opening,” said owner Jonathan Cronin, owner of the academy, “and we did that with four riders, but to go on and have Ashton place second in one event, Joshua to also place second and to have an 8th with Megan was beyond my wildest dreams.
“The weeks of effort that the children put in really has paid off, the early trips to events, the long days in the hot sun and the rain are now all well worth it.
“We could not have done this without the superb instructor Channelle Bothma from Seyunique equestrian yard. She has really made such an effort with the children. They work hard for her and all her efforts have now been justly rewarded with three placed riders in Nationals.”
Cronin would also like to thank all the parents and staff of Orchards Academy for all the support they have given him this year.
“Who knows what next year will hold for us, but I am currently so super impressed with the children that have put our new school on the tongues of all the horsey fraternity, not just in Henley-on-Klip, but the whole Country.”
Should you be interested in contacting the tutor centre, you may email the secretary on orchardsacadamy101@gmail.com or follow them on facebook.
