Queen Mary’s Equestrian Team are National Champions!

27 Oct 2016

There is great cause for celebration at Queen Mary’s, as the Equestrian team became national champions, beating 48 other teams, at the NSEA Show Jumping Championships which was held at Addington in Buckinghamshire last weekend.

Queen Mary’s sent down thirteen horses and fourteen riders to the prestigious National Schools Equestrian Association Championships. The team competed against 400 teams from other schools to qualify for championships, many with girls much older than ours, making it a stiff competition.

Friday saw the first competitions with the Junior members taking place in the 75cm show jumping and Arena eventing classes. Although not placed, Amelia Murray, Kitty Denny, Bobby Denny, Maisie Caine, Amy Bell, Daisy Page, Amelia Moody, Lucy Drake and Hattie Warne all rode with style and quiet determination laying down the essential foundations of experience for the future. Many of our next successes will no doubt come out of this group of conscientious performers.

Saturday saw the jumps raised by 10cm and the Queen Mary’s team of Olivia Murray, Tara Barker, Lilia Schaible, and Dee Ormstone, all jumping double clears and qualifying for the evening final. The Queen Mary’s team came second in the evening jump off.

On Sunday, for the jump off (final phase) the jumps went up to 1.05m and we were the only team to win on no faults, so the only team that had three clear rounds. Emma Swinburn our Riding Centre Manager said: “All girls rode exceptionally and showed good horsemanship and sportsmanship, I could not be prouder.”

Mrs Cameron said: “This is a great achievement for Queen Mary’s. The girls were competing against teams from large schools, which makes their success even more impressive. It is a tribute to their hard work and dedication, and also that of the School’s equestrian staff, particularly Robert Blane and Emma Swinburn.”