39 teams and 140 riders battle it out at inter-schools’ equestrian event
Thirty-nine teams and 140 riders from across Sussex competed at the recent annual Inter-schools ShowJumping Competition, hosted and sponsored by the college, and held at Hickstead – the All England Jumping Course – by kind permission of the Bunn Family.
In the 50cm first class of the day, 14 schools battled it out over a well-designed course. At the end of round one there were four teams tied on zero faults who went through to the jump off – Brambletye, Cumnor House, Great Walstead and our own Hurst team, who nominated Harry S as their representative. He rode a fantastic round against the clock to secure second place for the team, not quite fast enough to overcome Brambletye’s winning time, as Cumnor House sneaked into third place ahead of Great Walstead.
There were 12 teams entered into the 75-80cm second class, when a tough track resulted in just two teams – Warden Park and Steyning Grammar – finishing on zero faults. In this class and class three each member of the team was required to jump off against the clock. Steyning Grammar’s team of four finished on four faults, which was enough to take the title ahead of Warden Park. In the individual competition, 20 riders finished round one on zero faults and came forward for the jump off. A lovely rider and her pony from Burgess Hill Girls pulled off a lightening quick round to push two riders and ponies from Handcross Park School into second and third.
The final class of the day was the 85-90cm, with 13 teams and 49 individual riders ready to do battle. Three schools finished on zero faults to take their places in the jump off – Bede’s, The Towers and Eastbourne College – which turned into 12 nail-biting rounds and left each school on a score of four faults. The final positions were decided by the combined times of each team, as The Towers took the title, followed by Bede’s and Eastbourne College.
Hurst was represented by three teams in this class, who did not quite make it into the jump off, however, six of our riders jumped clear to ensure a place in the individual jump off, alongside 20 riders from other schools. Each of our pupils, under the watchful eye of team trainer Brian Cassidy, produced brilliant rides against the clock with six double clears. Katie V and Ryan P were super speedy showcasing some tight turns, but were beaten to the title by a Towers rider for a double victory, as Katie took second place, with Ryan in third.
“A superb day, that could not have happened without the help of the Hickstead team, our volunteers and parents, and, of course, all the other schools who made it a fantastic day of competition,” Georgina Black, Mistress-in-charge of Equestrian.