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Yeongcheon national riding competitions close after 955 classes in four days
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The 13th Yeongcheon Daemagi and 4th Yeongcheon Mayor's Cup National Riding Competitions ended on 18 October at the Unjusan Riding Training Center in Yeongcheon. About 100 riders from some 20 clubs and about 100 horses took part in 955 classes, including show jumping.
The 13th Yeongcheon Daemagi and 4th Yeongcheon Mayor's Cup National Riding Competitions in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, ended their four-day run on 18 October. According to Yeongcheon City, the event was held from 15 to 18 October at the Unjusan Riding Training Center (운주산승마조련센터) and was organised and run by the Yeongcheon City Equestrian Association. About 100 riders from some 20 riding clubs across the country competed with about 100 horses.
Two competitions back to back, more than 230 classes a day
The event was split by date into two competitions held one after the other. The 13th Yeongcheon Daemagi National Riding Competition ran on 15 and 16 October, and the 4th Yeongcheon Mayor's Cup National Riding Competition on 17 and 18 October. Classes included show jumping over fences 30 to 100 cm high, gwonseung classes and an event called "The Turtle Runs". More than 230 classes were held each day, for a total of 955 over the four days. The Yeongcheon Times reported that balance, concentration and teamwork between horse and rider were the points to watch in the jumping classes.
Outside the arena, the organisers ran a traditional games area for families, along with food and a prize roulette draw for each riding club. Yeongcheon Mayor Kim Byung-sam thanked the teams and officials for completing the competitions without injury and said the city would continue to support the event so that it becomes more substantial.
A national event centred on club riders
Yeongcheon is a designated horse industry special zone. The city said it would build on the experience of running this event to make its national riding competitions more competitive and to strengthen a base for local development that links the horse industry with sport and tourism.
The competitors came from riding clubs across the country, and the fences went no higher than 100 cm. The Yeongcheon Times said that combining national-level competition with hands-on activities for families helped extend riding beyond elite athletes into everyday sport. A comparison with the 54th Korea Racing Authority (한국마사회) Chairman's Cup, held earlier the same month (8 to 11 October) at the 86·88 Equestrian Park in Gwacheon, shows the difference. According to Sisa News, 94 horses and 64 riders competed in 22 sections across 14 disciplines there, with show jumping classes up to 135 cm. The Yeongcheon event had a similar number of entries, about 100 riders and about 100 horses, but held 955 classes over four days.