Equestrian c'ships a test for riders
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)