News & Headteacher Blogs

The Downs School had six students travel to the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) Championship show at Hickstead over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. NSEA - Industry experts & providers of inter-school equestrian competitions

 

Our excellent riders were: Poppy, Georgie, Holly, Amber & Elsa.

'The NSEA hold two championship shows a year, this event saw the winners from each County compete in Dressage and Showjumping and Eventers Challenge, all who have qualified throughout the year at qualifying shows.

The first four students headed down to Hickstead in West Sussex on Friday to set up camp and settle the horses into their temporary stables. Georgie took advantage of the warmup classes Friday afternoon and completed in the 70 cm showjumping class and a super clear for Georgie on her pony Sky.

It was an early start for the dressage team on Saturday morning who were first in the ring for the County Restricted Dressage Team Championship class at 8.30 am, all the ponies were plaited and sparkling clean and the riders looking very smart in the show attire. The riders, Poppy and Holly, gave it their all. The Downs Team finished in 11th place with Holly achieving the highest score in the whole class of 71.11%.

On Sunday our next team of Poppy, Amber and Elsa arrived. Elsa and Amber competed in the 90cm showjumping class and then Amber and Poppy took part in the 80cm Eventers Challenge Championship class, a very competitive class with over 250 competitors. Poppy was just 1 second off the optimum time but unfortunately knocked the planks picking up 4 faults which saw her drop from 12th place to 151st place!

On Monday it was another early start for the County 80cm Showjumping Team of Amber, Poppy and Elsa, a nice clear round for Amber finishing 13th out of over 90 competitors. Then a 9 hour wait for their last class of the show, the 90cm Jumping with Style where riders not only have to try not to pick up any jumping faults by jumping clear and nearest to the optimum time, but they are also marked for their riding style. Poppy had a lovely clear round to finish in 5th place and Amber got the highest style mark in the class and finished 3rd qualifying for the next NSEA championship show which will be held in October.

After a long and busy weekend we pulled out of Hickstead show ground at 8pm Monday evening, exhausted but very happy, what a great weekend. A great effort and some great results for The Downs horse riders.'

If you are interested in finding out more about The Downs Equestrian team, please contact Ali Wellman at thedownsequineteam@outlook.com

Alison Wllman, External Coach for The Downs School Equestrian Team