Equestrian c'ships a test for riders

JAKARTA (JP): Next week's National Equestrian Championships in Bandung will be the testing ground for local riders before major local and overseas events, an Indonesian Horse Society executive said yesterday.

Ninety-eight athletes from Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, West Sumatra and North Sulawesi, the country's powerhouses in the sport, will compete at the event from Aug. 8 to Aug. 10, Pribadi Poedjajadi said.

The event is sanctioned by the world equestrian controlling body, FEI, and will feature dressage, jumping and a three-day event. It will be held at Lembang, Bandung.

Seasoned athletes with good international reputations who will be competing include Tenny Palendeng, Nicky Pelealu, Ardy Hapsoro, Putri Wulandari and Roy Ibrahim who will battle for top honors in the Open Division, the championship's main attraction.

"Several who perform well in Bandung will represent Indonesia in an equestrian circuit around Southeast Asian countries due to start in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 23 and 30," Pribadi said.

Roy, who spends most of his time in Australia, came third in a jumping competition in the Netherlands in June, beating 150 local riders.

From Kuala Lumpur the circuit will move to Ciater, West Java, on Sept. 21 and Sept. 28, then proceed to Bangkok on Nov. 30 and Dec. 6, before returning to Kuala Lumpur for its final leg of the circuit slated for Dec. 14 and Dec. 21.

The dressage competition in Bandung will be split into four age divisions, under-14 years old, 14 to 18 years old, 19 year olds and 21-year-old athletes.

The jumping competition will features seven classes including the 140 centimeters hurdles in the Open division from which local riders will be chosen for international events.

A polo exhibition will also be held. This is a horse mounting sport established here in the 1930s. It was wiped out during Japan's occupation of Indonesia.

The Indonesian Horse Society's polo chief, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, will lead a team in a friendly competition against an Army team.

"Hopefully, the exhibition will revive the polo competition in Indonesia," Pribadi said.

Other major international competitions Indonesian riders will compete in are the First Asian Equestrian Championship in Seoul on Oct. 19 and the Volvo Cup championships. (rsl)