The Hickstead Finals were a wonderful weekend for our pupils and their families. A variety of pupils from Years 5 to 12 competed out of their comfort zone and showed great horsemanship and teamwork. Here is a roundup of the day’s events:

 • 100 Eventers Challenge Final

The students jumped a round of show jumps in one arena. As it was a championship, some fences were higher than our riders had ever jumped, up to 1.10m. They moved to a holding area and jumped the XC fences in another arena on a challenging course with some very technical lines. Florence had a pole over the ditch in the XC and was too fast. Hetty had a stop at a fence that was positioned to look like the horses were jumping into water. Poppy flew past fence 10 and completed the course in a beautiful round.

• 90 Eventers Challenge Final

Florence, Hetty and Poppy all had double clears with some very impressive positive riding from Hetty. Eliza had a pole. All riders were too slow this time! The team finished 8th out of 41 teams.

• 80 County Show Jumping

Violet and Eliza had jumped clear. Florence was going for the time and took a fence too tightly that her pony couldn’t make. Meg had a pole. The team finished 7th out of 27 teams. Violet was 37th out of 118 and the quickest member in the team.

• 90 County Show Jumping Final

Florence and Meg had both jumped clear rounds. Hetty and Poppy had a pole each. The team finished 8th out of 23 teams. 
 
Special mention to Fliss who had not qualified yet came to support and was plaiting and grooming, encouraging all the riders and helping with warm-ups. Another special mention to Violet who unfortunately couldn’t take her pony as he was not well a few days before. Desperate to ride in this competition, and having had a practice run on her sister’s pony a couple of days before, on the day she was determined as ever and rode her sister’s new pony in the 80cm Show Jumping. This took great courage and she should be very proud.

Well done to everyone!