The agricultural town of Bredasdorp, Western Cape, will soon play host to an international sporting spectacle as South Africa takes on Australia in a three-day tentpegging test match at Nampo Cape, running from 10 to 13 September.
The competition, staged in the Western Cape Lubricants Arena, will open on 10 September with lance events, followed by sword contests on 11 September, and will conclude on 12 September with a fast-paced relay featuring rings and oranges.
Teams and Talent on Display
South Africa will field a senior men’s side, a women’s team, and an Under-21 squad, the latter featuring riders as young as 14 years old. For many of these juniors, this marks an early step onto the international stage.
Australia, currently rebuilding its tentpegging program, will provide stern competition — especially in the youth division, where close contests are expected.
Precision, Speed, and Tradition
Tentpegging — once called gymkhana — is a centuries-old equestrian discipline where riders gallop at full speed while striking suspended targets or lifting small ground pegs with a lance or sword. Riders compete individually, in pairs, or in four-member teams, with judges awarding points for style, accuracy, and control.
“This is a sport that demands precision, control, and absolute trust between horse and rider,” said Brendon Muir, South Africa’s vice-president of technical affairs at the International Tent Pegging Federation (ITPF).
South Africa’s Global Standing
Muir noted that South Africa consistently ranks among the top three nations worldwide, with the country having lifted the Tentpegging World Cup twice in the past decade. The women’s team are the current world champions, while juniors also hold a top-three global ranking.
“Our consistent success reflects South Africa’s role in shaping the future of the sport,” Muir told Farmer’s Weekly.
Looking ahead to the Bredasdorp clash, he said the Under-21 contest would be one to watch, given South Africa’s youthful squad and Australia’s rebuilding efforts. “We expect our ladies’ team to dominate, but the juniors could face a much tighter challenge,” he added.
Local Growth and Global Ambitions
Tentpegging in South Africa is overseen by the South African Equestrian Tentpegging Association (SA Tentpegging), which has active structures in all nine provinces. The sport’s local calendar is busy, with at least two club competitions every month, annual provincial and national championships, and development clinics during winter.
Outstanding riders are awarded South African colours at national championships, with selections made for international contests across age groups from juniors to masters.
On the global stage, momentum is building for tentpegging to be included in the Olympic Games by 2036. South Africa is playing a leading role in this effort, not only through competition but also administration — with two representatives on the ITPF executive.
“South Africa is at the forefront of this sport, both competitively and institutionally,” Muir said. “We are not just competing; we are helping shape tentpegging’s future.”
