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[RC] Namibia - ride is done - Stephanie Teeter


The last of the horses and riders pulled out today. Goodbye sea and dunes, 
goodbye to the famous seaside bungalow where Angelina and Brad stayed (just a 
few kilometers up the coast from Walvis). goodbye to the cool misty mornings, 
sayonara to the wind! (though the last few days and ride day were perfect - 
just light breeze and sunshine). 

The awards ceremony was last night, lots and lots of awards - and it seemed 
like there were by far more juniors and young riders than seniors. much much 
different from the USA. They did the National Championship awards, and the 
African (regional) Championship awards, and also year-end awards ... many many 
awards! and the ceremony was in Afrikaans so I got the gist of the thing, but 
lost a little of the detail:) 

I sat next to the Minister of Sports for Namibia - a large african woman with 
a big smile. She was very proud to be there, and very very proud of Frans 
Saubek - a colored who rides and trains for one of the families. He won so many 
awards (including first to finish in the 160km - 9:12 ride time) that she said 
"he'll need a lorry to take all of this home! This boy is having a very special 
night" . Indeed, he looked mostly overwhelmed, every once in a while a smile 
escaped from his wide eyed wonder. I have quite a few pictures of him from the 
trail - he was very photogenic with his dark skin, riding a horse of the same 
color, bright yellow shirt. 

The leading 160km riders left on the last loop close together, flat out gallop 
out onto the course. Hannelie Coetzee, Frans Saubek, Vanette Hanedom, George 
Wessels  - all within minutes of each other. Up until the last loop they had 
been averaging 16 - 17 km/hr on the course. Frans and Amir did the final leg in 
53 minutes, 22.6 km/hr. Amazing really, and the horse looked awesome at the 
finish! Like he had done nothing. Amir also won the Best Conditioned award - 
he's a half arab gelding, I think the other half was a type of african 'quarter 
horse'. a big dark horse - very impressive. Hannelie and Wanette and George 
were not far behind, it was a race. 

The 120km Junior Team championship had some excitement as well - 9 riders (from 
both Nambian and S. African teams) left Dune 7 at the same time, and when they 
hit the flat took off at a gallop, the remaining 10km to the finish. The 
traffic control didn't quite have things under control at the road crossing - 
as they came galloping to the road there were a couple cars going by - on of 
the horses barely missed slamming into the car - slid to a stop and went around 
before it got straightened out again. Another horse leaped over the front of 
the car (for real, it's on film) and gained the lead. These kids are tougher 
and braver and crazier than anything I've seen before. And their horses too! 

- later,

Steph


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