Sport
The year began with a wonderful show jumping event
hosted by King's Schools Taunton on a sunny day at
King's Hall. The day resulted in team success in class 2
as well as an individual win for Eliza Chapple in class 3.
Our teams consisted of riders from both King's College and
King's Hall, and represented the schools all over the South West.
Events included Blundell's School's One Day Event, Stonar
School's One Day Event, Wellington School show jumping, Polden
Hills Eventers' Challenge, Millfield NSEA Jumping with Style
and Taunton School's NSEA show jumping. Some of our senior
riders did particularly well; Phoebe Swan, Eliza Chapple and
Lilly Chambers all winning their class at Polden Hills Eventers'
Challenge. Our younger riders also continued to develop, with
Tilly Williams, Lara Chapple and Jemima Rundell gaining 2nd
place team at the same event.
A real highlight this year was the outstanding afternoon of training
with GB three-day eventer and six times Olympian Mary King
over fences at the new outdoor cross-country arena at Pontispool.
Mary is an inspirational rider, who is a role model for many of our
pupils. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the training session and grew
in confidence as they tackled larger and more demanding fences.
Outside of the school events, Hannah Welch won a total of 11
races; she also qualified for the national finals, run this year at
York, where she finished a very creditable 7th of 12 runners.
Hannah's last few races were run in front of crowds numbering
up to 25,000, and she has now moved on to point-to-point racing,
where she is having great success.
Riding
By Julie Gresswell
Eliza Chapple, Lily Chambers and Karis Chambers at Blundell's ODE, about
to go out on the cross-country
Hannah Welch and Ella Buckley waiting to start the Mary King clinic at
Pontispool
King's Schools riders with Mary King
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