The Mayfield riding squad is celebrating after taking the National Schools Championships by storm once again, and claiming a whole string of championship titles! As well as an individual title for 15 year old Amy Whiffen in the 1.10/1.15m Show Jumping championship, the successful East Sussex girls’ school took home three of the nine team championship titles up for grabs, as well as finishing runners up and placed in a further four championship classes.
The 17-strong squad from the independent girls’ school travelled to Addington Manor where the prestigious competition is held each year, ready to compete for the top prizes against over 800 competitors from 180 schools from all over Britain. Of these schools, who had all qualified at various events throughout the year, Mayfield was by the far the most successful, and showed that they are the team to beat in every discipline and across all levels!
Amy Whiffen, a pupil in Year 10 at Mayfield, produced a fantastic clear round to take the 1m10/1m15 Individual Show Jumping title on her home-produced pony Knight Rider, beating off stiff competition from some of the best young riders in the country, including an international competition pony who jumped for team GB at the recent European Championships. Amy was delighted with her success and commented “I’m so pleased with Knight Rider. He did everything I asked of him against such tough competition he really is a star and rose to the challenge beautifully. I’m so pleased with the result as he always puts his everything into his jumping and loves his job!”
She was joined by Sophie Malorey (17) and Ellie Walker (16) to successfully defend their title as National Schools 1m10/1m15 Team Show Jumping Champions for the second consecutive year. Team Mayfield dominated in the 1m Team Show Jumping competition to claim both the title and the runners up trophy, and took the championship 80cm Team Show Jumping class in a most convincing manner, to complete the hat-trick.
However, their success was not limited to the Show Jumping arena. Mayfield teams fought hard in the 1m Arena Eventing Championship, narrowly missing out on the title to take both 2nd and 3rd place. The school also finished in a highly respectable sixth place in the Team Dressage competition, showing that Mayfield’s squad of riders is strong across the disciplines.
This is not the first time that Mayfield has dominated the National Schools Championships. In 2013, the School claimed 3 National Titles, and this is the 10th consecutive year that the Mayfield Equestrian Squad has been National Schools Champions. Director of Riding, Jill Barker, thinks the squad’s consistently impressive results can be put down to the hard work and support that goes on behind the scenes, as well as the school’s emphasis on the importance of striving for excellence in both academic studies and extra-curricular activities. “But,” she says, “it is the Mayfield team spirit, both on and off the horses, which really sets us apart. Not only do the girls work hard, but they go the extra mile to help and support each other through all the ups and downs that come with horses. I am immensely proud of all of them.”
Mayfield’s brand new equestrian centre opened its stable-doors in 2013. There is stabling and grazing for 30 horses and ponies on the school site, so the pupils can visit their ponies during the school day, and ride at lunchtimes and after school. With some of the best equestrian facilities in the South East, and an international event rider on site to offer expert tuition at all times, is it any wonder that the Mayfield Equestrian Squad are proving to the be the ones to beat?