Equestrian has gone from strength to strength this year with more than 40 riders on our roll and our weekly Monday training sessions at Rectory Farm for everyone are paying dividends.

In February College held its inaugural Equestrian Dinner for Riders, OCs and their parents. We welcomed OC Tom McEwen (H, 2009), our most successful Sporting OC having secured an Olympic Gold medal in Paris and Olympic Gold and Silver medals in Tokyo 2020. He was so generous with his time and reflections, even allowing current Cheltonians to wear his medals!

We hosted our own Eventer Challenge at the end of March at Rectory Farm. Despite the bitter cold, our pupils had a successful day with teams qualifying for the Championships and individually Kayleigh O’Neill won the 1m Eventer Challenge class.

Another highlight of the year was at Royal Windsor Horse Show in the Inter Services King of Bahrain Show Jumping Competition, where our relatively young team of Tamara Townsend, India Trounson, Fenella Redvers and their mounts came an amazing fourth place, each jumping hard to come by clear rounds despite distracting crowds, big screens and military displays. They acquitted themselves so well in the main arena gelling as a team in front of royalty!

We then headed to Hickstead where we achieved a creditable fourth place over a very tricky course in the 95cm Inter County Show Jumping Competition. Darcey Cutts, Tensie Littlewood, Lottie Atkinson and Bella Charlesworth worked well together.

The main Inter Schools Show Jumping Championship was held on the hallowed turf of Hickstead and the team of Willow Johnson, Fenella Redvers, Lottie Fyson and Tensie Littlewood represented College, showing great team spirit to come 13th. Individually Willow went clear and had a great time introducing her young horse to the main arena and all looks very promising for the coming year!

Another fabulous achievement was that Tinks Walker in Lower College came sixth in the prestigious Badminton Grass Roots competition. An outstanding effort considering the thousands of competitors of all ages vying for this amateur National eventing crown. In British Eventing Isabella Sanford has been flying, achieving a top five place overall in the U18 category representing the Central Region in the National Youth Championships.

Thank you to all of the parents for your continued support which enables our pupils to achieve so well and most importantly enjoy their horses.

Full Colours: Sofia Games
Half Colours: Isabella Sanford, Tinks Walker, India Trounson

Mrs Jenny O’Bryan