The Queen’s College equestrian team rode home to victory at the Stonar Inter-Schools One Day Event Championship 
last weekend – one of the major schools riding events in the UK.
The team came first out of 17 teams from schools from all over England on a score of 85.5, finishing an outstanding nine points ahead of their competitors.
The Championship consisted of dressage, show jumping and cross country, in which the four Queen’s girls gave very strong performances.
Year 8 pupil Anna Stillwell, from Fitzhead, won her section with 28.5 after scoring 24.5 on the dressage, receiving 4 faults in the show jumping, and finishing clear and inside the time on the cross country.
Kate Shapland, also in Year 8 from Fitzhead, won her section after achieving 27 on her dressage.
Georgina and Henrietta Ewell from Illminster, in Year 9 and Year 6 respectively, both contributed to the tremendous team result.
Georgina scored 26 in the dressage, 4 faults in the show jumping and clear inside the time on cross country, coming third with 30 in the same section as Anna. Henrietta achieved 36 in the dressage, 8 faults in the show jumping, and finished clear and inside the time on the cross country with an overall score of 46.
The girls “couldn’t quite believe” how well they performed and were thrilled to have won such a major championship for Queen’s College.
Said Headmaster, Chris Alcock: “Many of our pupils at Queen’s College are keen riders who are ranked highly in the schools riding arena and who are extremely well supported by both their parents and staff here at the school. We have a strong riding heritage here at Queen’s.
Olympic horsewoman Mary King sent both her children to Queen’s College and Emily King, who left the school last year, is now pursuing a professional riding career.
Georgina and Henrietta regularly ride at Cotley Pony Club and Lamberts Castle Riding Club and Henrietta received a signed book from Mary King at last week’s event as part of her prize.
Kate is a member of at Taunton Vale Pony Club and Anna rides with Taunton Vale Harriers Pony Club and Taunton and District Riding Club.