A Bishop’s Stortford College pupil has qualified for the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) Championships.
Tilly Dickinson-Gaunt earned her place in the competition after excelling in her first NSEA County Schools qualifier earlier this month.
Up against more than 40 other competitors from schools across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Hertfordshire, Tilly and her pony Alfie won the 70cm class and came 3rd in the 80cm class and also placed 2nd in the 80cm class on her other pony, Cariad Mam (Carrie). The duo are a ‘new partnership’, having only been training together for 10 months.
Tilly, who started riding 3 years ago, trains with her coach every Thursday as well as practicing after school for 2 hours most evenings. She has also qualified on both ponies for the 80/90cm classes at the National Show Jumping Championships due to take place in the summer at Stoneleigh Park.
As well as representing the school at various competitions almost every weekend, Tilly also competes for Suffolk on the area team and is hoping to be selected to jump for the England pony team in the summer. Tilly’s dream is to show jump at Olympia in the 138cm height pony final.