Promotional Feature
The King's School's equestrian team put its best hoof forward to win the National Schools' Dressage title at the spiritual home of show jumping.
In a carefully coordinated, almost military operation, eight talented young riders with their horses and families travelled down to world-renowned All England jumping course at Hickstead in West Sussex. Staying three nights in their horse boxes with their horses in temporary stables, the awesome eight produced some stellar rides.
The National Schools' meeting was the culmination of a year long qualifying process with team wins in the county and regional titles at events at Kelsall Hill, Beaver Hall and Eland Lodge Equestrian Centres, across Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire. The team train under 4-star event rider Richard Long. The team are also members of the East Cheshire Branch of the Pony Club, regularly training and competing, with each rider dedicating a great deal of time to their passion.
At Hickstead, competing against 1,000 plus competitors from over 50 top schools nationwide, the King's team not only won the hugely prestigious Dressage title, but were placed in the top eight in nearly every section of the show-jumping and arena eventing classes across all four height categories.
The consistency of their overall performance should not be underestimated, and this level of performance has been there throughout the year, regularly competing against other top sporting schools including Millfield and Sedbergh.
It is the fourth sport King's has won national titles in this year, with rugby, trampoline and netball players also excelling on the national stage, in what has become a golden age for sporting success at the top Macclesfield school.
The team aged 11 to 15 were Ruby Barton-Firbank on Warrior; Lacey Barton-Firbank on Rocky; Poppy Holding on Macy; Rubi Ambrey Brosnahan on Princess; Oliver Ravenscroft on Winston; Emily Carter on Owen; Antonia Heptinstall on Jetta and the young starlet, Libby James on Bella.
One of the leading young riders, Poppy, who hopes eventually to represent Great Britain, said the secret to success, was "hard-work and dedication." She added: "From an early age, you learn that equestrianism isn't just about riding your horse, but mucking out, grooming, checking their feed, looking after the tack, ensuring the horse is physically and mentally fit, keeping them warm and forming that very special, one to one bond."
Emily added: "It was a great privilege to compete at Hickstead and represent the school. I am really proud of how the horses and team performed."
Oliver who has been riding from a very young age and works hard to develop them into winners, added: "My horse Winston isn't very experienced, but on the day, he really came good. I wasn't sure we had done enough to win because you always want more of yourself, so when we saw we had won, it was amazing." Rubi said: "You have to be committed. I will spend three or four hours every day looking after my horse, but it's worth it."
Sally Raw-Rees, one of the Estates Team at King's, who organises the school's entry into county, regional and national competitions, and negotiates school sponsorship to enter the major events, said: "We have a wonderful crop of superb young talent who are blessed with amazing, tireless support from their parents and families."
Like all the families, proud team managers Jo Holding and Tracey Atkin were thrilled: "The all-important relationship between the rider and the horse comes from time, care and hard-work and this result is reward for their dedication," said Tracey. Jo added: "We are all pleased as punch and extremely proud."
Photo: From left to right are Ruby Barton-Firbank on Warrior; Lacey Barton-Firbank on Rocky; Poppy Holding on Macy; Rubi Ambrey Brosnahan on Princess; Oliver Ravenscroft on Winston; Emily Carter on Owen; Antonia Heptinstall on Jetta and the young starlet, Libby James on Bella.
