Blazing Saddles

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Blazing Saddles – Fantastic Equestrian Team Success

On Wednesday 30th May the Bilton Blazers Showjumping  Team met early on a soggy, wet Northamptonshire show ground to compete in the annual Wellingborough Inter-Schools Team & Individual Showjumping Competition.

Our Team of 3 riders, Constance Krarup on Percy, Hannah Reynolds on Bracken and Thomas Falkingham on 2 ponies Sir Noddy and Oliver were to compete in 2 classes. Class 1 for 12 years and under and Class 2 for under 14’s.

Having never competed as a team before and on ponies which were quite novice at this discipline, the team set out to walk the course. This competition was classed as 2 Phase, which required the riders to complete a course of eight fences, on going clear they would immediately proceed into the timed section jumping a further 7 fences against the clock. Having walked the course as a team they appeared quite optimistic, their ponies also looked keen and ready to jump.

The Bilton Team were 2nd to go, with Thomas and Sir Noddy setting the standard, they jumped a great clear and rocketed round the 2nd section in a very fast time, Connie went next on Percy, who also jumped a very confident round and was well

up on the time. Hannah and Bracken jumped a superb round to finish with a clear, Thomas then jumped his 2nd pony Oliver, with yet another clear round, leaving the team on a 0 score with fast jump off times. 5 teams and 5 individuals (25 competitors) contested the class and when the final scores were announced The Bilton Blazers were in 1st place ahead of Clipston, Spratton and 2 teams from Wellingborough. Individually Thomas came 3rd and Connie 4th. The Team were presented with the WPSA Trophy by Chairman of Governors at

Wellingborough School.

On to Class 2, which saw a change of course and the fences raised a further 6 inches, The Bilton Team were 1st to go. Thomas and Sir Noddy set off at a flying pace, which unfortunately saw them clip the very last fence for 4 faults,  Connie and Percy jumped a perfect, fast clear round, with Hannah and Bracken also going clear. Thomas jumped again on Oliver who tipped a pole in the early section, leaving the team on a score of 4 faults as only the best 3 rounds count in each team. There were 30 competitors in this class of 6 teams and a number of individuals representing 13 different schools. When the Bilton team was announced in 1st place again, we were quite surprised but extremely pleased, Spratton were the runners up. Individually Connie was 3rd on Percy. The Team were presented with the Redden Trophy by Mrs Jodie Redden.

Thomas went on to jump in Class 3 (riders 18 years & under), over a different course of higher fences, as an individual on Sir Noddy. He jumped a lovely round but slightly slower then his previous one ensuring a clear, unfortunately this was not fast enough to be in the placings.

Despite the heavy rain, The Bilton Equestrian Team had a truly memorable day.

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Tags: Prep, Sport