School Captain, Grace H. recently had success with her pony club show jumping team at the prestigious Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials Pony Club Team Show Jumping Competition. Here are her thoughts from a competitor’s viewpoint:
“The Warwickshire Hunt Pony Club took a team of four girls to the annual Team Show Jumping at Burghley. The track was causing carnage and was full up to height (1.05-1.10m). The team jumped in the morning before the lunch break. I was the team’s pathfinder and brushed number 6 coming up the hill to finish on 4 faults. Next in was Gemma Watts, the youngest member of the team, who rode and produced an immaculate clear which left the team in a good position. Third to go was Gee Holland who rode beautifully but had an unfortunate three poles and to finish Jess Hope came out with a solid and vital clear round which meant the team were able to finish on a collective total of 4 faults. After this success, we were in the lead going into the afternoon.
The team then had to wait for three agonising hours for the rest of the teams to jump. The poles kept falling all day with faults a plenty. Not a single team finished on 0 faults or 4 faults therefore there was no need for a jump off. Although our team were prepared to jump off, it wasn’t until the final team to jump we knew we had won!
It was such a special day to win such a prestigious event for the WHPC. A massive thank you to our team trainer Pippa Williams and all our parents and other supporters including our assistant DC Susan Dancer. After coming second last year at this event, we didn’t think it could get much better. Well done to team for such a brilliant result. This is something for all the younger members of the pony club to aim for in the future.”
Our congratulations go to Grace and her team.