It is fantastic to hear that Bloxham riders have had a summer of success!
A major highlight for the Bloxham team was in the Schools Show Jumping Championships at Hickstead where Jack S (Wn), George H (Sy) & Tom B (Eg) competed in the senior competition (1m10).’ They came through the preliminaries with clear rounds to qualify as one the eight teams out of 35 into the final jump off in the International Arena with the Derby Bank and all the landmark fences, the first time a Bloxham team has achieved this! The surroundings proved a little daunting leading to a couple of poles down but the boys didn’t let their heads drop and finished eighth, creditably close behind more experienced teams.
Individually, many Bloxham riders have competed locally, national and internationally with success over the summer. Tom B was selected as First Reserve for the GB Pony Eventing team that won silver in Hungary. He went on to compete in France coming fourth’in his first overseas event before going on to be part of winning teams in both the Open Eventing and Intermediate Show Jumping at the Pony Club Championships in Cheshire. His sister, Hannah (Ex), also tasted success in Pony Club Novice Eventing by coming first in her Area and subsequently fourth at the Championships, a great result at 12, although she did ‘borrow’ Tom’s pony as hers was lame!
Grace H (Ry) also had a fantastic summer of Pony Club success in all disciplines; in Novice Show Jumping, her Warwickshire team won their Area and were placed third at Champs; in Novice Eventing her team were second and she was third individually at Areas and rode positively to be placed sixth individually at Champs and finally in Intermediate Dressage, she was a leading member of the team placed second at Areas. Having represented the Warwickshire Hunt Branch of the Pony Club at Area Level in Show Jumping, Eventing and Dressage and been part of the winning show jumping team, the second place eventing team and the pure dressage team (all teams of four), this meant Grace and her horse Bolgerstown Belle had qualified to represent their branch at all three disciplines at the Pony Club National Championships held at Cholmondeley Castle in August. This in its self was a great achievement. Once at the Championships, Grace and Belle had a magnificent third place with their Show Jumping Team, an individual seventh place in Eventing finishing on a double clear with two time faults pushing them five places down the order. They were not placed in the pure dressage team event but never the less had a respectable score. The Pony Club Championships were Grace’s main focus this year with an aim to qualify and then to put in strong performances once there. Grace was thrilled with her efforts as she has produced her seven year old horse from a four year old herself with the help of her trainers.
Millie R (Wf) represented her Pony Club at Rockingham Invitational Championships where a double clear helped the team to third place. She has also been placed in several BE and NSEA events over summer.
George H has had a busy summer of eventing at several levels. He has brought one horse to Novice which despite its name, means jumping solid fences of up to 1m 15!’ At the same time, he has taken on a new horse which he has already ridden to major placings at BE90.
Congratulations to all our students on their successes this summer, and thanks to Fran Bird and Polly Hopkins for their reports.