Hickstead... here we come!

Success at the NSEA (National Schools Equestrian Association) Eventers Challenge.

Last Saturday some of our school riders competed in a very full and busy day with some super results.

The children and their ponies had to jump a course of 18 jumps – the first eight being show jumps and the second eight being cross country jumps. But this event was run under the rules of an optimum time – so if you had jumped a clear round it was the person who was nearest the optimum time that was declared the winner. This is a real skill and something that the children have to judge and gauge the speed of their round.

In both classes there were around 80 children competing from around 20 schools from across the South West – the competition was excellent and the standard very high.

In Class 1 we had two teams entered – 8 riders and our teams finished in 1st and 3rd position with Josh C coming 2nd and Emily W coming 4th individually.  The winning team was Josh C, Skye F, Emily W and Patrick D-R.

In Class 2 we again had two teams entered with our team of Josh, Jake, Patrick and Emily finishing 6th and Josh finishing 2nd and 6th individually.

This was a national qualifying event and as a result of our successful day we now have two school teams through to the finals at Hickstead in May half-term and Josh qualified in both the 75cm and 85cm classes as an individual.

A hugely successful day. Congratulations and well done to the team!