MBABANE – Eswatini rider Khetsiwe James is back competing after an extended break, marking her comeback at a major youth show in South Africa.
James and her seven-year-old horse, Williams Princess, returned to the arena at the Maple Ridge Equestrian Centre near Krugersdorp, where they competed in the Maple Ridge Youth Extravaganza held from September 24-27.
Equestrian sport involves riding and competing with horses, with show jumping requiring riders to guide horses over a series of obstacles within a designated course.
The competition, held over the past two weeks, attracted around 50 riders in each of the three 1.0-metre classes entered by James and Williams Princess.
It was their first national show since Easter, after which the pair returned to Eswatini to continue training.
Although they did not finish among the placed riders, James’ Manager and Coach Kerry James said the competition provided valuable experience ahead of their next assignment.
“While they did not place, it was a valuable opportunity to gain competition and arena mileage ahead of their next outing, mid-October at the Kyalami Post Derby,” James said.
The return to competition follows a period during which James focused on training and developing Princess, who recently turned seven and continues to gain experience at the level.
James has also represented Eswatini on the continental stage. She was the country’s sole equestrian representative at the inaugural African Schools Games in Algiers, Algeria, where Eswatini sent nine athletes to compete across various sporting disciplines last year.
Her selection followed her show jumping performance before a panel of judges in Algeria. During the competition, nine of the 28 riders who recorded clear rounds received rosettes mounted on their horses. The classification at that stage did not determine first, second or third positions.
