Equestrian

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.

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!

An amazing experience for the riders, horses and parents!

Click or scan the QR Code to watch a video of this event.

Moreton Equestrian Centre hosted a qualifier for the Windsor Horse Show and Hickstead Elite. With tough opposition from both local and some travelling schools, and only the top team qualifying we knew this would be a challenge.

Anouska rode first, with a strong clear round, followed by Anna, who was also clear and fast. Phoebe then rode on her new pony, in only their second competition together and got round clear meaning that Emily could afford to aimed for a fast clear. They flew around and the team got a very quick team score with only Leweston to go. As they had already qualified a team at another event it meant that we would finish 2nd as a team, but took the qualifying spot for Windsor Horse Show on July 3rd. This event also had a team 1m class which we came second in as a team and Emily won on Magic, with only three team members, qualifying the team for Hickstead Elite in July and Addington in October. Emily also competed in the 110 pony class taking a 1st and 2nd place and qualifying for Hickstead Elite and Addington.

On Bank Holiday Monday, some girls went to Dorset Showground in some terrible weather to compete in a BS Schools National Qualifier. Between the rain showers they rode brilliantly to win the 90cm class with Anouska, Freya, Lilah, Anna and Emily. They then went on to win the 1m class, leading to two teams being qualified for the British Showjumping National Finals in Stoneleigh in August.

With three National Finals to compete at over the summer: Stonar, team and individual eventing in September, and Addington in October, we wish the riders all the best and look forward to hearing the results at the start of the new year.

The qualifying team for National Schools finals for British show jumping, Anna, Emily, Anouska and Lilah.

Anna Ingvaldson riding Ballylee Port Roe, who won the Schools Equestrian Games qualifier for eventing over 90m, came 8th as an individual in the eventers challenge final at Hickstead, has won and been placed 2nd and 7th at BE 90 in her first season.

Luli Loveridge was in her last year on Ponies (148) and was selected to represent GB in Belgium before the final lockdown which prevented the trip. She won at the Horse of the Year show, The National Championships at Bolesworth Castle and many other events. Freya Cameron-Clarke who was part of the qualifying team for Hickstead at Pontispool and winning at KSEC. She jumped a fabulous clear at the Hickstead eventers challenge finals at 90, with a team 2nd nationally.

Marcia Kennard has had a quieter season while concentrating on her GCSEs. However, in the short time since, she has returned to competition she has won at Moreton ODE and had several BE placings.

Emily Weeks has had an outstanding season on her ponies - with the summer yet to come.

She has become National Eventers Challenge Champion at 1m on Drop The Subject, both as an individual and in the King's Bruton team.

She has had a fabulous season at BE pony trials eventing on her 2 ponies.

Island Boy II has had numerous placing, including a spectacular 15th place in the National Pony Trials at Belsay International.

On Corker Buachaill, Emily has also been competing at BE pony trials and U18 competitions with a win and many placings. Emily awaits selection news on the U18 BE 100 South West squad for the Youth Championships in Yorkshire in July. Best of luck!

Anouska Loveridge