World cup equestrian event at George show

EQUESTRIAN NEWS - Equestrians and other visitors to the George Agricultural Show are in for a big treat in the show arena this year.

For the first time in South African history, the International Tentpegging Foundation (ITPF) World Cup will be hosted on local soil in George from Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 August.

Tentpegging, previously called gymkhana in South Africa, is an equestrian sport, where the objective is for a rider to pierce, pick-up and carry a target, with a lance or a sword, as they gallop towards the target.

"It is with great pleasure that the South African Equestrian Tentpegging Association (SAETA) hosts the 2023 Tentpegging World Cup in George. With this only being the forth ITPF World Cup ever hosted, we are very excited to be able to see this historic event come to life," said SAETA President, Jaap Lötter.

More than 40 countries competed to qualify for this event and only nine, including the South African team, made it as part of the world's best. The SA team will be competing against riders from India, Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Yemen and Norway.

President of the ITPF Mohamed Issa Al Fairuz, along with a couple of delegates and the Oman tentpegging team, arrived at George Airport on Sunday 20 August where they were welcomed by George Mayor Leon van Wyk and members of SAETA.

"It is a true honour to welcome the finalists to South Africa for the 2023 ITPF World Cup. I would like to thank SAETA and the city of George for hosting this event. South Africa has played an integral role in the development of tentpegging. It is with great respect that we now visit your shores to compete for the highest honour in our sport," said Fairuz.

President of the ITPF Mohamed Issa Al Fairuz holding the world cup with Vice President of SAETA Leon Venter on their arrival at George Airport on Sunday morning. Venter is also the SA tentpegging team's coach. Photo: Kristy Kolberg

Competition programme

Thursday (today)

10:30 – Lance competitions
14:00 – Opening parade and official opening of the ITPF World Cup 2023
15:00 – Lance competitions continued

Friday

11:00 – Sword competitions

Saturday

09:30 – Gallows and relay event followed by the awards ceremony

Welcoming the President of the ITPF Mohamed Issa Al Fairuz (fifth from the left) and his team from Oman in the Middle East, was George Mayor Leon van Wyk (third from the left), Gerald Minnaar (chairman of the World Cup organising committee), Frans Linde (World Cup organising committee), Leon Venter, Secretary General of ITPF Haitian M.J-Laqati, Mariaan Linde and Vice President of ITPF Brendan Muir. Photo: Kristy Kolberg