The Hurstpierpoint College National Schools & Pony Club Championships 2009

"A wonderful exhibition of talent, skill and courage” - Tim Manly

The Annual Hurstpierpoint College National Schools & Pony Club Championships at Hickstead lived up to their reputation as an event in which great competition combines with great comradeship in an almost carnival atmosphere.

This year, Pinewood School from Shrivenham won the Junior Schools Team Championship and Cowbridge Comprehensive School in Cowbridge, Wales on the Senior Schools Team Championship. "This superb event “said Hurst Headmaster, Tim Manly, “- in which hundreds of schoolchildren and pony club members from all over Britain and Ireland participated - was a wonderful exhibition of talent, skill and courage. No-one could have failed to be impressed by the calibre of these youngsters who, coming from all walks of life, were nevertheless united in their exuberant enjoyment of their sport, their commitment to do their very best for their team and their generous and warm-hearted recognition of those who eventually came through as winners in what was an extraordinarily tough day of competition."

"The Hurstpierpoint College National Schools & Pony Club Championships are a unique opportunity for any child to compete in the famous International Arena at Hickstead, where only a week before the best horses and riders in the world had been performing” commented Hickstead Director Edward Bunn. “With the support of Hurst College these Championships have continued to grow. This year we saw record numbers in the Senior Schools section, the sport was as good as you would see anywhere, and all the Champions deserved their triumphs”, he concluded.

Hurst’s support for the Championships is, explained Tim Manly, an indication of the importance that Hurst places on delivering excellence right across its provision. "The first-class academic education we offer at Hurst here at Hurst has to be my first priority but, beyond that, I believe passionately in the value of our outstanding extra-curricular provision which embraces an impressive range of sporting and outdoor activities as well as the creative and performing arts.

Our continued search for excellence in these areas led us to work more closely with our near neighbour, the world class equestrian showground at Hickstead, and become title sponsor for the Hurstpierpoint College National Schools& Pony Club Championships. "As a result, equestrianism is rapidly becoming a popular option for our pupils. I know that, alongside much else that we do here, it helps children to grow in personal confidence, act responsibly, identify and address challenges – both as solo and team performances – and equips them to assess and manage risk; all qualities that are of great value to youngsters both now and throughout their adult lives.”

 

Hurstpierpoint College's Senior Team suffered a major setback when Ellie Brown fell whilst warming up in the practise ring; she was very badly bruised and, after bravely re-mounting her horse for the team photograph, reluctantly acknowledged that she would be unable to compete. Fellow student Raheela Kahn who was at Hickstead as a spectator gamely agreed to take Ellie's place and - with kit borrowed from friends - rode Ellie's horse in the preliminary round.

The additional waiting (as a new slot was found for the Hurst team) took it's toll, however, and the team did not make the Senior Schools finals this year. "We are a very young team" said Amy Inglis "and we'll be back for a few years yet, determined to win!".

 

Results:

Hurstpierpoint College Junior Schools National Championships
Team Championship 2009

First         6      PINEWOOD SCHOOL, SHRIVENHAM, WILTSHIRE                                       
1      Daisy                                 Countess Goess Saurau            Fransiska Goess
2      Bobby Sox                          Mrs Suzie Belsham                   Caitlin Belsham                 4
3      Dooneens Future Star          Mrs Sarah Mendoza                  Jessica Mendoza               4
TEAM SCORE                12

Second =  11    MILLFIELD SCHOOL, STREET, SOMERSET 'TEAM A'                                              
1      Greybrooks Lara                 Mrs S Schanches                      Foula Schanches               8
2      Tessa                                 Mr Leheup                              Bonnie Leheup                  4
3      Ashford Star                       Mrs East                                 Charlotte East                   4
TEAM SCORE                16

Second =  10    STONAR SCHOOL, MELKSHAM, WILTSHIRE                                                
1      Samba                               Mrs J Sharman                         Sarah Pinfield                    0
2      H P Pickle                          Gemma Maughan                    Gemma Maughan              12
3      Beech Lawn Spencer            Louise Harris                          Louise Harris                    4
TEAM SCORE                16

Hurstpierpoint College Junior Schools National Championships
Individual Championship 2009

1st         SAMBA                          Mrs J Sharman                 Sarah Pinfield                  0/4 58.97
(Stonar School, Melksham, Wiltshire)

 

2nd        JIGSAW             Richard St.Pier                            Richard St.Pier                0/E 46.23
(Cothill Trust School, Abingdon, Oxon)

 

3rd        BOBBY SOX       Mrs Suzie Belsham           Caitlin Belsham                           4    78.0
(Pinewood School, Shrivenham, Wiltshire)

 

Hurstpierpoint College National Pony Club Championships
Team Championship 2009

First         9      FITZWILLIAM PONY CLUB, CAMBRIDGESHIRE                                                                              
1      Golden Class                                                            Georgie Armstrong            Georgie Armstrong            0
2      Bounce                                                                    Jenny Martell                     Jenny Martell                      0
3      Pudding                                                                   Emily Meredith                  Emily Meredith                    8
4      Rosie                                                                      Georgie Fenn                    Georgie Fenn                      0
TEAM SCORE                  0

Second    12    ATHERSTONE HUNT PONY CLUB, NUNEATON, WARWICKSHIRE                                              
1      Grange Annie                                                           Mrs. Margaret Johnson        Oliver Johnson                   4
2      Mister Seamus                                                          Mr. Neil Fearn                   Chloe Fearn                       4
3      Eliza Doolittle                                                           Mrs Kim Murray                Imogen Murray                   0
4      Elegant Madera                                                         Mrs Kim Murray                Ben Murray                        0
TEAM SCORE                  4

Third       7      NORTH COTSWOLD HUNT PONY CLUB, EVESHAM, WORCESTERSHIRE                                                   
1      Cherokee Bride                                                         Mrs Louise Merry               Lizzie Byrne                     4
2      Ramages Lady Tara                                                   Mrs Jane Ramage               Sophie Trinder                    4
3      Millenium Edition                                                      Mrs Julie Johnson               Francesca Johnson               0
TEAM SCORE                  8

Hurstpierpoint College National Pony Club Championships
Individual Championship 2009

1st        PICANTO                      Amanda Hylands             Amanda Hylands 0/0 35.13
(Iveagh Pony Club, County Armagh, Ireland)

 

2nd        ELEGANT MADERA        Mrs Kim Murray              Ben Murray                    0/0 37.17
(Atherstone Hunt Pony Club, Nuneaton, Warwickshire)

 

3RD        ELIZA DOOLITTLE                     Mrs Kim Murray  Imogen Murray    0/0 38.48
(Atherstone Hunt Pony Club, Nuneaton, Warwickshire)       

Hurstpierpoint College National Senior Schools Championships
Team Championship 2009

First         40    COWBRIDGE COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL, COWBRIDGE                                                          
1      Myrddin                                                                            Martyn Edwards            Louise Edwards         0
2      Silver Sunburst                                                                   Jan Rees                      Josh Rees                  0
3      Murvey McCoy                                                                   Sian Allman                  Bethan Allman           0
TEAM SCORE        0

Second     5      STONAR SCHOOL, MELKSHAM, WILTSHIRE 'TEAM 1'                                                                   
1      Who's Fancy                                                                      Mrs S Addis                 Charlotte Addis         0
2      Kali de Lear                                                                       Clive & Julie Andrews          Ellie Still                   0
3      Drop of Gold II                                                                  Mark Milligan                Charlotte Adderley    8
TEAM SCORE        8

Third=     37    MAYFIELD SCHOOL, MAYFIELD, EAST SUSSEX 'BLUE TEAM'                                                  
1      Queen Emery                                                                   Emily Erde                   Emily Erde                4
2      Mirror Image                                                                    Charlotte McKee         Charlotte McKee       8
3      Lucky                                                                               Ella Curley                   Ella Curley                0
TEAM SCORE        12

Third=     43    KILKENNY COLLEGE, KILKENNY, IRELAND 'TEAM A'                                                                
1      Monosera                                                                          Michael Heffernan         Heather Heffernan      8
2      Castleview Mannion                                                            Jeremy Cairns Snr         Jeremy Cairns Jnr       4
3      Rathurtin                                                                          Dennis Cummins          Luke Cummins          0
TEAM SCORE        12

Hurstpierpoint College National Senior Schools Championships
Individual Championship 2009

1st         RATHURTIN      Dennis Cummins Luke Cummins                0/0 39.80
(Kilkenny College, Kilkenny, Ireland)

 

2nd        LUCKY              Ella Curley                     Ella Curley                     0/0 39.90
(Mayfield School, Mayfield, East Sussex)

 

3rd        KALI DE LEAR    Clive & Julie Andrews       Ellie Still                         0/0 40.09
(Stonar School, Melksham, Wiltshire)