Since September the equestrian world has been a little stop-start, and quite often just when combinations started riding well together, we were put back into lockdowns. However, in September a number of pupils attended the Eventers Challenge qualifiers at Pontispool. This event requires the riders to complete a show jumping course, followed straight away by a round of cross-country fences in an arena. It was designed to keep the eventing ponies going during the winter months when the ground is too wet to compete on grass. Over a difficult track, we had some pleasing results, with Lilah Bird coming 2nd in the 90cm and Emily Weeks 3rd in the 1m, both qualifying as individuals for Hickstead. We also had two teams qualify at 90cm, with Sophie Gould and Patrick Dick-Read making up the team. Anna Ingvaldson managed to qualify as an individual in the 1m at KSEC in a small gap in lockdown in January, meaning we needed another team outing to qualify another team at KSEC in April. On a very wet day we took two small teams, and managed to get a team 1st, with Freya Cameron-Clarke, Lilah Bird and Phoebe Slight, with individuals placings for Lilah and Phoebe. In the 1m class Phoebe won and Lilah came 5th to secure the four members for the 1m team at Hickstead. This meant that we had a team in both the 90cm and 1m class qualified for Hickstead, as well as two individuals. Sadly, Anouska’s pony was unable to be ridden at the finals, but everyone was delighted that she came to support and be part of the team. We travelled up to Sussex on the Sunday evening, stabling the ponies and camping in lorries and a local B&B. Having walked the course the evening before, settling ponies and enjoying a BBQ, the girls got a relatively early night! The following day we were late in the class allowing for Emily to drive up that morning. This
meant we could watch a lot of the teams go and we knew that we would need a relatively quick clear for three out of the four riders. Anna Ingvaldson led out with a very quick clear on Roe, followed by Freya on Annie, who was clearly loving her day out, flying around with ease. Lilah went next and having started very well, had a surprising stop, leaving them departing company. This meant Emily had to go clear to leave us in contention, on the highly experienced Magic. Keeping a very cool demeanour Emily flew around the track, leaving the team in 2nd! Phoebe also rode as an individual and rode beautifully, to go clear, just too slow for an individual place. Anna’s time was only 0.86 off the optimum time, placing her in 8th individually. Later in the day we had the 1m class and knowing we could go clear left the girls in a positive frame of mind. They walked the track carefully, with a few bogey fences being identified early on and fence two seemingly being knocked down by every other rider! With very few clears we knew that was a priority as Anna went first for the team. Frustratingly she rolled the same pole on fence two that so many others had but kept her calm and completed the rest of the course in a fast time. Lilah rode next and overcame her disappointment in the 90cm to ride a strong round, only having a minor issue at some tricky angled brush
fences off a tight turn. With two rounds of four faults, we needed two clears to stand a chance! Phoebe rode an amazing round on Robin to secure the clear we needed leaving Emily to go in last for the team. With all of Magic’s experience the expectations were high, and Emily rode a positive and very fast clear, taking all of the short cuts! This left us sitting in 1st place with three teams and 15 individuals to ride. As riders kept having little mishaps the chances of staying in the lead remained high and with only Leweston to go as a team they knew they needed the clear and the pressure was on them. Fortunately for us three of their riders had faults resulting in our team becoming National Champions! We had to wait for a few more individual results to hear that Emily had also won the class and was the National Champion as an individual too! Sadly, due to restrictions the girls couldn’t be presented their sashes and prizes in the ring or have a lap of honour - we will have to return next year to gain that experience!
THE DOLPHIN
Alex Ireland describes what can only be seen as an exceptional season for our riders, particularly with the uncertainty of the world we have found ourselves living in.
SPORT - EQUESTRIAN
Equestrian
An amazing experience for the riders, horses and parents!
Click or scan the QR Code to watch a video of this event.
The Arena Eventing National Champions at Hickstead - sadly there was no mounted presentation for the team due to restrictions. Emily Weeks (National Champion as an Individual), Anna Ingvaldson, Lilah Bird and Phoebe Slight.
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