Riding Stars

The Pipers Corner Equestrian Team put on a superb display at the Inter-Schools Team and Individual County Challenge Show Jumping Qualifiers for Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire on Saturday 24 January. At the event, which took place at Bury Farm Equestrian Village, the girls showed their quality with both individual and team success.

Pipers Corner entered six teams in the competition and all the girls rode fantastically to earn well-deserved success.

In Class 2 (Grass Roots Qualifier 50cm) Louise P finished in first place individually out of 28 competitors and the Team of Louise P, Gina M and Alicia J came 3^rd. In Class 3 (Grass Roots Qualifier 60cm) Alicia J finished in 6^th place individually out of 31 competitors and the Team again managed to finish in 3^rd place.

These fantastic results mean that the Teams have qualified for both the 50cm and 60cm competitions in the Regional Championships which will take place later this year. Louise P and Alicia J have also qualified to take part in their respective individual competitions.

In the 70cm County Challenge qualifier the Team of Phoebe H, Olivia S and Jemima C finished in 3rd place and, as the highest placed Bucks team, became Bucks County Champions. This means that the Team have qualified for the National County Challenge Championships in April. Individually Phoebe H finished in 5th place and Olivia S in 6th place out of 68 competitors – a superb result.

For the 80cm County Challenge qualifier the Team of Phoebe H, Olivia S and Jemima C were joined by Laura D. They girls all rode skillfully and finished in a well-deserved first place which qualifies them for the National County Challenge Championships in April.

Individually Olivia S had the ride of her life on a pony she has only had for 3 weeks and finished first overall out of 110 competitors – a fantastic achievement. She qualifies for the Nationals as an individual, as well as riding for the Team.

Other commendable performances came from the Team of Lekita D, Ciara S and Rosie T who took part in a very competitive 90cm County Challenge qualifier. Both Lekita and Ciara rode very well to finish in 6th and 8th place individually out of 105 competitors. The same Team also competed in the 1m County Challenge qualifier, with Lekita finishing in 8th and Ciara in 10th out of the 53 competitors. This is the first time that Pipers has had a team or individuals in a competition at this height and all of the girls rode with guts and steely determination.

Mrs Jackie McGonigle, PE Teacher said “All of the girls rode very well and should be extremely proud of their amazing achievements. The girls were a real credit to the school and, as one parent commented, it is exciting to think that these girls may be our future champions in the sport of Equestrianism.”

For more information contact:

Rebecca Conroy, Senior Marketing Executive, Pipers Corner School. Telephone 01494 719850 or email [email protected] | www.facebook.com/PipersCornerSchool | @PipersCornerSch