The three Burgess Hill School for Girls’ show jumping teams attended the popular Copthorne Prep NSEA Show Jumping event at Felbridge Showground on Saturday 19th May and achieved a third place in the demanding 60cm course.
Burgess Hill School’s 60cm team consisted of sisters, Lottie Turner and Francesca Turner, Anna Frost and Eleanor Reffin. The course was run in a similar way to the bigger classes and this was demanding for the younger girls to remember and ride. Eleanor rode first for Burgess Hill and completed a clear round on her pony, Tilly. Francesca also rode an accurate clear and was followed by Lottie who had a stop and whose pony jumped the final jump the wrong way around. Finally, Anna jumped clear but was slightly thrown by Lottie's approach at the last. She sorted herself out just in time and ended on four faults for riding an error in the course. The 60cm team finished on four faults and came 3rd place out of six, an excellent result.
Burgess Hill School’s 70cm team also rode well at the event, where the quality of riding was particularly high. They achieved 5th place overall. The team was Amy Gareze, Alice Reffin, Olivia Hibbert and Freddie Driscoll. The team was drawn to jump first and the class was run as a 'single phase in two parts'. It was a technical course with some ‘spooky’ decorative effects. Amy rode first with a speedy and accurate clear round and was one second outside the individual placings. Alice rode next and ended on four faults after a stop near the pond. Olivia had a good start but took a tumble at the double. Last to go was Freddie, on her new mount Eric, who jumped another lovely clear. The team ended on four faults and 5th place.
The 80cm team started with a clear round from Katie Finnerty on Lucy and was followed by Sarah Rogers, on Lady, who clipped one pole. Sophie Duffield, riding on Amber, had a little trouble with her brakes and ended up with eight faults. Last was Rachael Hawkins on Alfie, who was unfortunately eliminated at the fifth fence. The 80cm team missed out on the ribbons this time as they were up against so many good teams in the class.