Biggest schools equestrian competition in Britain takes place
The National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) Championships, the biggest national schools’ equestrian competition in Britain, took place at Addington Manor on 15 and 16 January.
The event had been postponed from December due to heavy snow.
School teams and individuals took part in regional qualifiers around the country to get to the championships, which have been running annually for the past 15 years.
NSEA chairman Jill Barker said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for riders from all over the country to represent their schools at such a prestigious event. Their sportsmanship and support for team-mates should make both their head teachers and parents feel very proud.
“The standard of riding has improved enormously over the past five years and we hope that this will help to create equestrian champions in all disciplines in the future.”
This was the biggest championships so far, with 600 competitors qualified to compete in dressage, showjumping and jumping with style (JwS, arena eventing), supported by about 1800 spectators.
Competitors aged seven to 18 travelled from Scotland, despite still battling against the snow, and all over the country, with 300 horses stabled on site on both the Friday and Saturday nights.
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Famous parents spotted cheering on their offspring included showjumper Tim Stockdale and former international footballer Stuart Pearce.
Among the competitive highlights, Mayfield won the open JwS championships for the third year running, Aylesbury High triumphed in the team dressage at their first attempt and Cranleigh took the open showjumping title.
Mayfield team captain, Emily Erde, said: “I’ve had a fantastic time representing Mayfield over the last seven years and feel very proud to be part of the winning senior team for the last three years.
“We have an excellent support network and our team spirit seems to give us the winning edge.”
British eventing pony team gold medallist Sam Ecroyd, representing Shrewsbury school, won both the intermediate and open individual JwS sections.
Emily Proud, from Somerset, who has competed in FEI pony sections and at British Eventing novice last season, took the elementary dressage championship with the seven-year-old Spot Awole. She was also second in the open individual JwS.
Winners
Jumping with Style (arena eventing)
- Open teams: Mayfield Red
- Open individuals: Sam Ecroyd (Shrewsbury)
- Intermediate teams: Godolphin
- Intermediate individuals: Sam Ecroyd
- Novice teams: Norton College
- Novice individuals: Chelsea Pearce (St Francis)
- Mini teams: Farlington
- Mini individuals: Ellie Burnell Price (Farlington)
Dressage
- Teams: Aylesbury High
- Elementary: Emily Proud (The Blue School)
- Novice: Ellie Jones (Aylesbury High)
- Prelim: Abbi Pownall-Gray (South Wilts Grammar)
Showjumping
- Open teams: Cranleigh
- Open individuals: Maddie Taylor (New Hall)
- Intermediate teams: Farlington
- Intermediate individuals: Hattie McCance (Kings, Macclesfield)
- Novice teams: Norton College
- Novice individuals: Kathrine Cross (Culford)
- Mini teams: New Hall
- Mini individuals: Darci Hill (Headington)
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.