SWAKOPMUND rider Michelle Kunzle will be the first Namibian ever to participate in the showjumping division of the FEI World Champion Challenge in Santiago, Chile from November 14 to 16.

Kunzle is the only rider selected from five countries in one of FEI's African zones - Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya - to participate in the international event based on her good performance over the last year.

There are altogether nine FEI zones around the world.

Each year, every country has an FEI tournament during which the riders compete for points that could qualify them for the world event.

About five years ago Brigitte Davidow - also of Namibia - qualified for the dressage category of the competition.

The 24-year-old Kunzle told The Namibian that she only found out about her election on Tuesday.

"I was so happy when I received the letter from the Namibian Equestrian Association.

I had always dreamt of competing overseas, and hopefully this would open doors for me on an international level," she said.

"I'm very excited, and I'm sure the competition will be tough but the experience is worth the world to me."

Kunzle won all the major events at a showjumping tournament held at Reiterverein Swakopmund last weekend.

The riders came from Windhoek, Okahandja and Karibib to compete against their Swakopmund counterparts.

About 40 riders and 50 horses participated.

According to Silvia Snyman, spokesperson for the Reiterverein Swakopmund, the judges, announcers and course designers, who came from abroad, enjoyed the "tough competition and sportsmanship".

The show was sponsored by Langer Heinrich Uranium.