A number of Bloxham students have been busy in their half term break competing at the NSEA National Championships
The NSEA National Championships are an enormously prestigious event in the equestrian calendar and each of our students had to overcome some stiff opposition to earn their places.’
Equestrianism is going from strength to strength at Bloxham. The most recent excitement is the fantastic victory by a talented team of Bloxham equestrians at the NSEA national championships over the half term break. It is an incredible feat for the students to compete at such a renowned event, let alone win their class – simply to qualify each rider had to have finish in first or second place in their respective regional event. This alone is a big ask but one that our students more that met, with three teams qualifying for the NSEA competition, and Tom Bird also qualifying as an individual.’
Bloxham’s class-championing team comprised Exham students Grace Hopkins (riding Moreton Hall Laguna) and Tom Bird (riding Pipistrelle), Alice Haynes of Lower Sixth (with Baidu M2S) and India Willes of Fifth Form (with Piper), and each put in some fantastic performances to win their’85cm Arena Eventing “Jumping with Style” class. This is a two-phase competition where competitors jump a round of show jumps and then a round of cross country jumps and are marked not only on any faults they pick up but also on their style of riding. This young team beat off some strong competitors from across the country (so many that the whole event took six hours to be completed) and were awarded their prize in the evening in the main arena in front of a large crowd.
All of our students did fantastically well to earn their places to compete at this latest event and it is great to be able to recognise the hard work and skill of each rider. It takes a phenomenal amount of preparation in the build-up to events such as these and it really shone through in the arena – each student looked very confident and it was clear that this confidence helped their horses to deliver on the day. Taking into account those who competed at regional level and those who earned a place in the final class at the NSEA event, our team were voted winners against a field of over 300 other competing teams – there is so much promise for the future here!
On the back of this victory, Bloxham’s team finished a comfortable first place in the regional points league for Midlands East for the 2013/14 season.’
Further congratulations are due to Tom Bird, who has recently been accepted to train with the GB Pony Programme Squad for Eventing, having completed a rigorous two day trial.
On top of acknowledging the hard work of the students, it is also important to thank those that help behind the scenes – equestrian at Bloxham has a large group of supporters and this spate of recent successes reflects their dedication and support, particularly that of Fran Bird and Lucy Haynes and their irrepressible enthusiasm. What an exciting time for equestrian at the school!