admin
Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S upcoming show-jumper Amy Hay set the bar high when she recently won a gold medal in the South African Youth Grand Prix Championships in Cape Town.
Hay became the first Zimbabwean showjumper to win a gold medal in the South African Youth Grand Prix Championships.
She competed on her liver chestnut mare, Goedzo Vittorio VDE in the 1.35m class. This was her first time competing at this level on this particular horse, and it was a very new partnership.
In a Grand Prix Championship, the horse and rider combination jump a series of jumps, in this case 15 fences. They then repeat the same process for a second time, and should they qualify, they go into a jump off against the clock to decide the winner.
Hay and Goedzo were the only rider and horse combination to get three clear rounds in the Grand Prix. A very tough and technical track and the top level for juniors.
Her father, Stuart Hay, said it has been a successful year for the 17-year-old who has competed in South Africa for a while.
“Amy has had a very successful year riding in South Africa. In August, she rode in the 1.30m South African Adult Championships on a Zimbabwean bred warmblood called Riven’s Whirlwind. She finished a very credible fourth out of 75 competitors.
“Then in September, she secured another first in the 1.30m class as well as a first place in the 1.35m Adult Knight Frank KZN Grand Prix Champion in Durban out of 80 competitors.
“This was accomplished on her Zimbabwean bred horse Riven’s Whirlwind, their first competition at this height,” said Stuart.
With the 2022 Youth Olympic Games moved to 2026, Hay’s goal for this year was to qualify Zimbabwe to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Jumping World Challenge.
“Amy’s goal this year was to qualify Zimbabwe in the FEI Jumping World Challenge (which consist of 3 legs or competitions), and for the FEI Youth Jumping Competition 2022 to be held in Germany. This competition has been sanctioned by the FEI as a result of not being able to host the 2022 Youth Olympics due to Covid restrictions.
“In order to qualify you have to have clear rounds, with no penalties. She won the 2nd Leg in Johannesburg, South Africa having a double clear and again managed a double clear in the 3rd leg
“Amy was the highest qualifier for Zimbabwe in the FEI World Jumping Challenge, so will be competing at a venue to be announced, perhaps in Europe. Then with her FEI results, she has qualified Zimbabwe for the Youth Championships in Aachen, Germany.
“But only five African nations are selected, so it all depends on what the other counties have done,” said Stuart.
All FEI results should be uploaded in the next few weeks and they will then be able to see if Zimbabwe secured one of the five slots.
Online Reporter