Over 80 horses and riders from all over the Eastern Cape will descend on Grahamstown this week for the Grahamstown Riding Club’s (GRC) prestigious annual Phoenix Roller Mills Settlers Show.
Over 80 horses and riders from all over the Eastern Cape will descend on Grahamstown this week for the Grahamstown Riding Club’s (GRC) prestigious annual Phoenix Roller Mills Settlers Show.
Some of the province’s top children, junior and adult riders from as far away as Plettenberg Bay, George, East London, Queenstown, Port Elizabeth and elsewhere will compete in the graded dressage, show jumping, showing and equitation which run from Thursday through to Sunday.
Local business Phoenix Roller Mills has been a generous sponsor of the event for 30 years or more and has made the show one of the highlights of the Eastern Cape showing calendar.
“Phoenix Roller Mills must hold the record for being the longest serving main sponsor of a show in the Eastern Cape,” said GRC Chairperson Louise Bowker.
“We are most grateful to the owner of Phoenix Roller Mills, Brian Bonsor, for his generosity over the years.”There will be exciting wall-to-wall competitive events throughout the four days in all four disciplines. “We welcome the support of spectators,” said Bowker.
“There is no entry fee and there is a tuck shop/tea room open all weekend. We will also be hosting events in the evening. The Grahamstown community is very welcome to join us at the club.” There will be a pizza evening and an auction to raise funds for the club on Saturday evening.
There is no cover charge. Popular local performer Dave Knowles will entertain the company. All sorts of weird and wonderful goodies will be auctioned off, including a free botox treatment, fabulous weekend getaways and delicious wines.
The showjumping tracks will be designed and built by the GRC’s Cliff Jones while Pippa Swift and Wendy Coleman from Port Elizabeth will judge the showjumping.
Georgia Diedricks from Rustenberg, Moya Truter from Port Elizabeth and the GRC’s own Christine Cradock will judge the dressage. Diedricks, assisted by the GRC’s Pat Pohl will judge the equitation.
“The Grahamstown Riding Club would like to welcome the Eastern Cape riding community to town and wishes all participants a very successful show,” said Bowker.
