Schools equestrian news: St John's Academy team collect a trophy at Stonor One Day Event
Rosettes galore - (l to r): Georgia King, Lily Jump, Holly StephensThe St John’s Academy National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) teams did well last weekend (May 14/15) at the Mini, Junior and Senior Inter-Schools competitions held at Stonor School near Melksham.
They came well up the NSEA competitions both as teams and as individuals - and won a hard fought for team trophy.
These competitions involve all three eventing disciplines on a single day - held under the guidelines of the British Eventing Rules for 2016.
St John's riders have had a good few weeks. They won at the West Wiltshire NSEA Jumping and Style event on April 24. This victory means they have qualified for the national championships in October.
And on May 1 they came second at the Swalcliffe Park Equestrian One Day Event - photo below.
At Stonor the competitions attracted teams from Marlborough College, Cheltenham Ladies College, Cheltenham College, Westonbirt, St Mary's, Calne, Dauntsey's, St John's Academy - and several Stonor teams.
On Saturday, Georgia King, Daisy Down, Evie Baggaley and Flossie Lloyd Jones had brilliant rounds in Class 1 (85cm). Their rounds gained the team fifth place - with Georgia King taking first place in the individual results
St John's team ready to start - (l to r): Georgia King, Lily Jump, Holly Stephens On Sunday, St John's Imogen Thompson was the school's only individual entry for the 75m class. However, after a winning dressage score, she had a nasty fall in the cross country. Both rider and pony are fine.
Later on Sunday afternoon, the St John's Pink Team were ready for the 90/95cm class. Georgia King was riding Mojo IV, Holly Stephens on Joey and Lily Jump on Chilli Pepper.
They all had excellent rounds and won the class. The individual rankings saw Georgia King gaining third place, Lily Jump fifth and Holly Stephens seventh.
The trophy is currently being engraved and the girls will then present it to the school - a good addition to its trophy cupboard.
It was a successful day's eventing. As one Mum put it: "Everyone was courteous, well turned and did St John's proud."
Success at Swalcliffe - (l to r) Georgia King, Holly Stephens, Hannah Hall & Lily Jump
[Click on photos to enlarge them]