January and February have been busy for the Equestrian Team, with qualifications for the National Eventers Challenge Championships being finalised, winning County Dressage titles and the first qualifications for October’s NSEA National Championships.
Following success for our Dressage team at the Surrey Dressage Qualifier, Cranleigh will represent Surrey at the County Final at Hickstead in May, alongside our Open Show Jumpers who became Surrey Champions in November. Gracie G. will also represent Surrey as an individual in the Restricted Prelim dressage competition, having won the Surrey qualifier. This competition takes place at the same time as the National Eventers Challenge Championships where we will be represented in the Junior, Novice and Open competitions with both teams and individuals having qualified.
In addition to focusing on this Spring Championship, the regional qualifiers for the NSEA Championships in October have started, and the riders have already gained qualifications for the Novice, Intermediate and Open Show Jumping, following wins at Felbridge and Merrist Wood over the last three weekends. Alongside the Felbridge Show Jumping we took part in the Combined Training qualifiers, where Gracie G. won the Novice and Madeleine R. was third in the Intermediate to gain individual national qualifications, and our Intermediate team won and our Open team were second to guarantee the team qualifications. We can now focus our attention on the Arena Eventing Qualifiers to come, to ensure full representation at the Nationals.
Once again all the riders have trained with enthusiasm, despite the often monsoon weather conditions, with particular mention going to our vice-Captains, Rory S and Madeleine R who have formed the bedrock of everything we have been doing this term. Younger team members, Gracie G and Sophia T have been rising through the ranks alongside them, providing real depth to the team.
