Avis Derby brings out the best

by Samantha Wright (Photographs by Tim Malone)

The South African riding fraternity is a small one. Only a handful of horsemen and women compete at the higher echelons of the sport and as such, small scandals tend to rock us to the core. Over the last few years the South African National Equestrian Federation (SANEF) has had a few.

The sport has always struggled to gain sponsorship. Besides being classified by most big corporations as 'white' and 'elitist', the likes of rugby and soccer also dominate our television schedules, making it difficult to gain sponsorships for horse riding events, never mind for athletes.

Amid it all, SANEF was slowly starting to make headway: We had teams competing at the World Equestrian Games in the Olympic disciplines and many athletes are currently overseas working towards qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics. Avis Rent-a-Car has been the title sponsor for the SA Equestrian world's most prestigious event – the South African Derby – for the last ten years. Throughout this time Avis also constantly supported and financed the Soweto Riding school which seeks to develop equestrian sport in Johannesburg and introduce it to those less privileged.

The clouds set in

But more recently the investigation into maladministration and financial irregularities at SANEF has damped enthusiasm and it could be argued that the bright star of equestrian sport is starting to wane. However, for those who attended the 2011 Avis SA Derby, it was clear that while problems of the past now cloud our future, the competitors and supporters of our beautiful sport will not allow these clouds to grey the present.
Avis celebrated their ten-year anniversary hosting this prestigious event and chief executive of Avis Rent A Car, Wayne Duvenage, says the current investigation has not put the company off. The derby adds glamour to Avis and they have reaped the rewards over the years. While Duvenage would not commit to the sponsoring of future derby events, he did say he could see no reason why not. Avis once again donated a large sum of money to the Soweto Riding School – this year proceeds from the show were donated and a cheque of R35 000 was handed over to the school.

Supporters from around the country flocked to the derby, which began on Wednesday, 5 October, with a vet check for all the open show jumping horses. Open horses compete in the 1,30, 1,35, 1,40 and 1,50 heights. The biggest challenge is that competitors need to qualify. This means they begin jumping on Wednesday and continue until Friday to try secure a spot in the competition. Those that qualify, rest on the Saturday.

More than jumping

Jade Hooke on A New Era, winners of the 2011 South African Avis Derby

The derby also caters for a host of other equestrian disciplines, including showing, dressage and Western riding. It also caters for the 'Compleat horse', which measures the ability of the horse in a host of disciplines and awards an overall winner. The derby also hosts the final rounds of the Gauteng Amateur Series, the Young Riders' Stal van Decraen Championship, and introduced a best turned out and performance class specifically for grooms.
The Derby has always catered for the highest ranked rider and horse combinations in their chosen discipline. But with a greater focus on development, more athletes have been encouraged to enter. Sarah Jane Williams and her Warmblood, Monet Espoir, were finalists in the Gauteng Amateur Series and so decided to enter the showing classes as well.

Monet did extremely well; he was the youngest horse in his working hunter class and placed 5th. His groom, Alex, entered the performance competition and received a highly commended award for his fantastic job. Sarah told SA Horseman that she had balls of fun, despite being focused primarily on show jumping; she now has a newfound interest in showing and will definitely be entering again. She also believes that the show was well-organised, the arenas were in good condition and the main event was exciting.

The big one

The main event, of course, is the South African Avis Derby. Come Sunday afternoon, Kyalami Equestrian Park was packed with spectators and competitors alike; no one wanted to miss the pinnacle show jumping event in our country. Last year SA Horseman outlined the difficulties of the course and how the course builder tests the riders. In previous years we took you through the course and outlined how one would go about jumping the track (with contributions from some of our top show jumpers).

For the track this year, Kevin Spratley chose to make the massive road crossing a shorter related distance to the St Andrew's cross and then on to the bank. Most of the jumps seemed bigger and more imposing with the double gates at the end of the course catching most victims. While the track itself remains the same, the course designer is able to alter distances, fence height and spread width.

New promise

New talent announced itself this year in the form of some very promising riders. AJ Radermacher and James Lowe (both young riders) both made it round their first derby track, but special mention has to go to first-timer, Anthea Erasmus, from Western Province. Anthea is rather new to the top levels and qualified on Meerenhof Properties Calypso. Anthea and Calypso rode a sensational round. She looked elegant and poised the entire way as she sailed over the fences as if she had been doing it her entire life. She finished on eight penalties, enough to place her joint fourth.

However, it was the extremely talented and wonder coupling of Jade Hooke and her Namibian Warmblood, A New Era, that stole the show. The top five qualifiers went last in the event. By this stage of the competition it looked like a jump-off would need to take place between four riders sitting on eight penalties. Paige Shiller and Midgard Glamour tipped only one rail, throwing them into the lead on four faults.

The crowd was electric, running on a high from Paige's round, but Jade entered the ring looking as cool as a cucumber. When she won the competition in 2009 (her first time out) there was a nervousness to her. But two years at top level competition has clearly worked its magic, as she did not show a hint of anxiety. She jumped a perfect clear round and the only word that describe it, was effortless.

With the pressure now on, Shaun Neill entered the ring on Clyde Z. The pair have striked up a remarkable relationship in the last few months and jumped a breathtaking clear ... until they were through the finish were it was announced Shaun had finished on one time fault.

Finishing is everything

While some might argue that one time fault separating you from a jump-off could be heartbreaking, Shaun was absolutely thrilled with Clyde's performance. Proof that for many of the competitors, derby truly is about getting through the finish and doing the best you can, while winning is simply an added bonus.

Second-highest qualifier was Michelle Stafford, who had a refusal at the bank before being eliminated at the planks below. The final horse to go was Sunny Park Stables' El Paso and Nicola Sime. Nicola had already completed a fantastic ride on her first horse, Sunny Park Stables Connoisseur NH – with eight faults and time penalties she was out of the line-up, but now had a second shot at the competition's highest qualifier.

Dreams of the win ended when she took a tight turn into jump six and El Paso refused. She completed the course with a near flawless ride and a huge grin on her face most of the way round – definitely a pair to watch in future years.

Warmblood magic

So the Eastern Cape's Jade Hooke proved she was not just a flash in the pan in 2009, winning the derby for a second time with the only clear in the class. Second spot went to Shaun Neill, while Paige Shiller placed third. This year saw a greater number of locally bred Warmbloods competing compared to the imported horses.

The Namibian Warmbloods are especially making their presence known in the higher levels; both the first and third placed horses were Namibian Warmbloods, as were both of Nicola Sime's mounts. It is also interesting to note that Paige Shiller is consistently placed in the top three at each derby year after year, proving her clout as a talented horsewoman. Could it be her year come 2012?

The talent in our sport is consistently growing and the support for our new breed of equestrian athletes is at times overwhelming. Despite the dark clouds that engulf the current investigation into the old management of SANEF, there is no doubt that with our riders waving the flag high, not only at home but also abroad, the clouds are soon to pass and the sun will come out on South African equestrian sport.

The 2011 Avis SA Derby winners

• Avis SA Dressage Derby: Andrea Harrison on Julie Mew's Loth Lorian
• Avis SA Driving Derby: Sheelagh Higgerty with Equitop Shillalagh Chakas Day
• Avis SA Compleat Western Performance: Lynn Muller on Philynns Cool Beaver
• Avis SA Showing Derby: Maralize Wilkins' Claratel Brentano, ridden by Chris Hartman
• Avis SA Working Horse Derby: Erin Dempsey on Equal Image
• Avis SA Compleat Horse: Erin Dempsey on Equal Image (KZN)
• Avis SA Showjumping Derby: Jade Hooke on A New Era (EC)

Congratulations!