Ikeja Saddle Club counts blessings, unveils programme for Equestrian Games

As a way of celebrating its achievements and contributions to equestrian sports, Nigeria’s foremost and only equestrian sports club, Ikeja Saddle Club, celebrated its 50th anniversary on children’s day at the club’s premises in Isheri, Lagos.

Ikeja Saddle Club was established in 1967, at Oregun Ikeja, as a Horse Riding Club by the then Lagos State Governor, Brigadier General Mobolaji Johnson, as a way of supporting equestrian sports and creating a preserved area of flora and fauna within the state. Since then, successive Lagos State governors have been the Club’s Patron, while the Ooni of Ife has been the Grand Patron of the Club.

Enumerating the contributions of the club to equestrian sport, the President, Vassily Oye Barberopoulos noted that it continues to promote equestrian sport and recreational activities not only to its members but to the Nigerian community and youth at large, adding that it is in the spirit of this they are welcoming members of the public to the golden jubilee celebration of the club.

According to him, “It is my resolve with my executive committee to have a legacy of a well-run club that can survive age and time and offer to generations to come, a heritage of what we all have enjoyed as a family club.

“This is why as part of the 50 years celebration of our club, we are having the Equestrian Games 2017 to engage the younger generations as well.

“The event featured children games, equestrian games, food and a raffle draw, where participants won fantastic prizes. While the children were busy with games, the parents took the opportunity to de-stress from everyday life to ride, take a nature walk, jogging or hit a polo ball,” Barberopoulos stated.