Riding
by Julie
Gresswell
Aluredian
96
R
iding continues to grow as an
activity at King's College, our
riders always competing
strongly on the challenging
South West circuit of events
that are part of the National
Schools' Equestrian Association (NSEA).
The Michaelmas term was once again our
busiest term with events nearly every Sunday.
This year we welcomed new younger riders into
the team who really did the school proud and
supported the more established team members
well. The season always starts with an exciting
day at Cuckoo's Nest for the Blundell's School
one-day event. This is a fiercely competitive
event with riders from all over the South West
competing. Tilly Barker riding Popcorn
achieved the best dressage score in her section
and hence was placed first overall, while the
team came sixth overall.
Our next event was Bruton School for Girls ODE
at Aldon where our team won their class and
brought home a super piece of silverware! This
was followed with a successful trip to Stonar
School for their national ODE, where India
Knott gained second place as an individual,
while Georgie Thomson moved from 30th after
the dressage to 10th in her section after riding
a double clear on her first time round this
demanding course.
The team consisted of many new combinations
this year, who were often riding young and
developing horses. Riders came from King's
Hall School as well as King's College. We also
competed at the Millfield Dressage and later
their Jumping with Style event, and Wellington
School Show Jumping - although we narrowly
missed out on the rosettes at these events, all
riders performed well and with enthusiasm,
often riding higher level dressage tests for the
first time or on a new horse over area style
cross-country fences!
Leea Dod had qualified for the NSEA national
championships that are held in December, but
an injury to her horse resulted in her
withdrawal; she is bringing on a new show
jumper who looks very promising!
Bad weather at the start of the Lent term
resulted in limited events and fit horses, but we
were fortunate to take our riders to a crosscountry
training session with international
three-day event rider, Mary King. The four
times British Open Champion and four times
Olympian held the clinic at the Stockland Lovell
course and was a huge success. Everyone had
a superb experience and gained a lot more
confidence to tackle big fences in the future.
In May, Georgie Thomson on her horse
Rosstown Hero represented King's at the
inaugural British Eventing NSEA Eventing
Series at Bicton Park over the BE90 course.
This event is run initially on a regional level,
from which the top eight riders in each class
qualify for the national championships at
Stonar School in May 2012, forming one of
eight regional squads. Georgie will represent
the South West. We are delighted for her; just
reward for all her hard work in bringing this
horse on during the year, especially as she has
to excel in all three disciplines of dressage,
show jumping and cross-country.
New cross-country shirts and riding stocks, as
well as a generous donation from the OAs that
has helped to fund new team saddlecloths
resplendent with the new school logo, will help
us to continue to look smart when we ride!
With a full calendar of show jumping, dressage
and eventing throughout the year, we compete
as competitively as any other school on the
circuit. We look forward to starting a new
season in September!
Georgie Thomson tackles
the cross-country course
during the Stonar School
one-day event