Each year, the top-ranked open adult and junior riders from across the province are invited to compete. For the 2024 event, the three highest-ranked adult riders and the top junior were selected to showcase their talents. But there’s a twist—the Wild Card.
The President of Western Cape Showing, Tarryn Stebbing, has the honor of selecting a Wild Card—an additional rider she believes has the potential to challenge the best. This year, Tarryn’s choice was Olivia Thomas, a talented junior rider who had recently moved up to the junior category with her new horse, Foresyte Buck Rogers.
With two esteemed UK judges, Nigel Hollings and Vicki Smith, alongside South Africa’s top showing judges, Olivia was thrust into the competition, facing not only her own horse but also the challenge of presenting another rider’s horse, drawn at random.
Each competitor must show their own horse, then draw another rider’s mount and present it under strict regulations and a tight time constraint—this tests the rider’s ability to adapt, maintain composure, and showcase ringcraft under pressure.
Just when the competition couldn’t get more intense, the top two riders from the previous rounds face a true test of their abilities—the mystery horse challenge. These riders must quickly adapt to an unfamiliar horse, showing their skill and poise in the final rounds.
The Chairman’s Cup is a true celebration of equestrian excellence—a contest of skill, strength, and heart, drawing large crowds and immense excitement. For Olivia Thomas, this victory marks the beginning of an incredible journey in the world of competitive showing.
