Defending schools champions secure top spot at Hickstead again
Toothill School, from Bingham in Nottingham, successfully defended the senior showjumping title at the Hurstpierpoint College National School and Pony Club Jumping Championships, at Hickstead, on 4 August.
The Gunn sisters, Rosie (riding Sophie) and Stephanie (Shiraz E), were part of the victorious team last year and this time round were joined by Paige Shipstone (Violetta) to finish on a score of four faults.
The championships, which were introduced in 1964, took place in the new £500,000 all-weather arena with 300 riders spread over the three classes.
The senior individual title went to Claire Redmond (Zapata), who had made the long journey from County Wicklow in Ireland to compete, taking the jump off by one-and-a-half seconds.
Akeley Wood School, from Buckingham, took the junior team title for the third time following success in 2000 and 2001.
Clear rounds in the jump-off against Cranleigh School proved key for the victorious team of Philippa Stacey (Aztec Princess), Georgia Wakelin (Bobby Sox) and Ellie Davis (Greybrook Lara).
The junior individual title went to Thea Gordon-Wingfield (Katie Clifdenstarlight) from Headington School, Oxford, in a time of 34.90 seconds.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
A blast from the past clinched the Pony Club title as the Garth Hunt branch of the Pony Club won for the first time since 1967.
The Berkshire-based team of Lilibet Toomey (Mai-Lis), Amy Halstead (Allrise), Charlotte Baker (Vito III) and Kerry Grimster (One Diamond) took a five-way jump-off beating the West Warwickshire branch of the Pony Club into second place.
Kerry Grimster also took the individual Pony Club title.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
