The Worksop College Equestrian Team have had a great start to the season, placing 5th at the Inter-Schools One Day Event championships at Stonar school in Wiltshire last weekend.
A one day event means that competitors have to each ride a dressage test, a round of show jumps and a round of cross-country. A team can be penalised for knocking jumps down or being outside of the optimum time to ride the discipline, for example, too quick or too slow.
The dressage test is marked against set criteria and is judged on technical ability. There are three or four riders in a team with the best three scores to count. The lowest overall total score wins.
Worksop College were 5th overall on the day. A brilliant performance considering the average age of the team is just 14 years!
The course was particularly tricky and many riders were eliminated for having refusals at fence Five. The picture below (left) shows the height - pretty daunting!
Results
- 1st St John’s of Marlborough - 80.5
- 2nd Sherborne Girls School - 96.4
- 3rd Hardenhuish School, Chippenham 99.6
- 4th Millais School, Horsham 110.4
- 5th Worksop College - 112.2
- 6th Mayfield School, East Sussex - 124.7
A number of competitions coming will give the team the opportunity to compete for qualifying places at Windsor International Horse Show, Hickstead and the National schools show Jumping & Dressage Championships in October 2020.
Regional events are open to all school pupils and the Equestrian Team would love to hear from anybody interested in taking part.
Email enquiries@wsnl.co.uk to find out more about getting involved.