The riding teams from Burgess Hill School for Girls took home the top places at the NSEA Inter-Schools Show Jumping Competition at Golden Cross Equestrian Centre in East Sussex over the Easter holiday.
The younger riders took part in the Class 1 category and set the bar high over a challenging and technical course. Molly Gareze (Year 6) rode first on Scrumpy Jack going at the fastest speed of the class but just clipping a pole en route. Eleanor Reffin (Year 7) went next on Tilly and produced a beautiful text book clear round. She was followed by Lottie Turner (Year 4), debuting for the school on her mount Captain Jack Sparrow. The pony proved to have some (speedy) ideas of his own but despite a setback at one jump, Lottie showed great sportsmanship and tenacity, finishing the course. Lottie’s sister Francesca Turner then rode on Tinkerbell, completing a fast, clear round. Finishing on just 4 faults, the team finished in first place which qualified them for the next round of the NSEA grassroots championships.
There were also individual placings for Francesca (4th place), Eleanor (6th place) and Molly (8th place).
The second Burgess Hill team of Year 8 girls rode in the Class 2 event. Alice Reffin rode first on Swallow and after a confusing start from the judge she did a lovely round with just four faults. Next up was Rachael Hawkins, for her first time back following her dramatic injury last September, produced a lovely clear round on Monty. Amy Gareze then took Scrumpy Jack to another fast four fault round followed by team newcomer, Olivia Hibbert on her youngster, Jack, who proved a little scared of the indoor venue and had two fences down. It is a measure of the difficulty and technicality of the course that despite ending on eight faults, the Burgess Hill team finished in second place.
Sophie Duffield (Year 8) rode as an individual in the next class showing some great riding, and getting four faults which put her just out of the placings.
We look forward to seeing a number of these girls and their mounts out again in the next fixture in April to continue Burgess Hill School’s success.