What-a-game of a show!

KNYSNA NEWS - Only 11 months into her career as a competitive show jumper, 16-year-old Knysna equestrian Jessica Hall is ranked fourth in the Western Cape and 17th in the country in her age group and competition category.

This is largely thanks to attaining gold and bronze in two recent championships.

Jessica took part in the Western Cape Junior and Youth Showjumping Championships at Noordhoek Riding Club on 10 and 11 October, competing in the A2* competition, at a 1m height.

Along with her trusty mare, What-A-Game, Jessica powered her way to a gold medal in the u.18 age category. Two weeks later Jessica and What-A-Game geared up again, this time taking on riders at the Eastern Cape Show Jumping Championships in Port Elizabeth between 23 and 25 October.

Again competing in the A2 competition at a 1m height, she achieved a bronze medal in the u.18 age category.

Jessica and her horse, What-A-Game.

Courtesy of these two results, Jessica now finds herself ranked fourth in the province and 17th in SA, a meritorious achievement considering she only began competitive showjumping in January this year.

Now a Grade 10 learner at Oakhill College, she has been riding since she was five years old, and rides as part of the Ebb and Flow Riding School in George under the instruction of AJ Rademacher.

Says Jessica's mom, Kim: "AJ has worked intensively with Jess this year, getting her to as many shows as possible in order to get her graded and to 'catch up', as most of the people she competes against have been riding competitively since their youth."

Jess's provincial performances last month qualified her for the national championships in Johannesburg in December, but she will not be able to attend this event. "Due to the timing and unfortunate events this year, the Ebb and Flow team have made the unanimous decision not to participate this year. So Jess will wait until next year to compete nationally," Kim says.

Jessica and her horse, What-A-Game.