Equestrian Excellence for Ellesmere at Schools Championships

Nine horse riders, from both Middle and Lower School, competed for Ellesmere College in the Schools' Qualifier for the National Championships at Southview Arena in Cheshire through a two day competition. The pupils were a credit to the school and put in some superb jumping and dressage performances, resulting in them qualifying for the Championships in Keysoe this weekend.

Day 1

Jumping with Style

Our two teams, Ellesmere 'Gold' and Ellesmere 'Purple' dominated the first class (75 cm Jumping with Style (JwS), coming a thrilling first and second respectively in strong competition!

Team members were:

EC (Gold) 1st place

• Anna Maughan
• James Caldwell
• Bella Spencer Blow
• Megan Griffiths

EC (Purple) 2nd place

• Emily Curzon
• Anna Maughan
• Imogen Spencer Blow
• Tessa O'Brien

The 85 cm JwS team, achieved a qualification for the Plate Championships, coming 3rd in a large class with strong individual performances from Emily Curzon and Imogen Spencer Blow in this class. Team members were:

• Tessa O'Brien
• James Caldwell
• Anna Maughan
• Bella Spencer Blow

Dressage

Our dressage team, comprised of Alice Parton, Tessa O'Brien, Harriet Otter and Anna Maughan produced some obedient and attractive tests, being placed 7th overall in a competition where the marks were very close between 1st and 8th place.

Day 2

On day 2, the 75 cm Show Jumping team, took part in a huge class and were placed a very creditable 4th. Well done to Megan Griffiths, Tessa O'Brien, Bella Spencer Blow and Imogen Spencer Blow.

Alice Parton and Harriet Otter, showed their experience representing Ellesmere in some of the bigger jumping classes over the weekend. Harriet, deserves congratulations for coming 3rd in the 1.10m class - these are very big fences! She qualified for the National Championships too. A fantastic achievement.

Overall, it was an exciting weekend, with a great team spirit forged between our riders, not to mention their ever-supportive parents. Particular thanks must go to Mrs Katie Caldwell for the monumental task of sorting out teams and entering everyone. The riders (and their horses) looked very smart with Ellesmere College saddle pads and purple hat silks and from my point of view, they were a delightful, generous-spirited and enthusiastic group of young people to be with.

We wish the teams good luck for the forthcoming finals of the National schools Championship in Keysoe!

Headline Image: Harriet Otter and Annie in the 1.10m class

Image: The Ellesmere 'Purple' and 'Gold' teams 

18th October 2018  Back to News