Namibia and South Africa compete in annual Africa Shield Eventing competition
Eventing teams from Namibia and South Africa will compete in the annual Africa Shield Competition in Otjiwarongo this weekend. The competition involves three phases: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. The Namibian A team includes Zoe Schmidt, Mira Meyer, Helge von Ditfurth, and Alyssa Hopking. The Namef B team consists of Jana Redler, Maja Höver, Louis Kotze, and Sylvia Kleyenstüber, with Jakes van der Merwe as Chef d'Equipe for both Namibian teams. The South African team features Kelly Paton, Madison Lanzoni, Petru van Eeden, and James Pitts, with Linda Squair as Chef d'Equipe. South African riders will use loan horses from local athletes and studs. The Africa Shield, introduced over a decade ago, allows regional eventers to compete and prepare for one-star competitions and the FEI Eventing World Challenge. The event, run under the Namibian Equestrian Federation, also includes individual rider competitions on a track prepared by Reitgemeinschaft Otjiwarongo.
