Maynard School's equestrian team crowned National Champions

Equestrian team members from the Maynard School in Exeter, the South West’s leading independent girls’ school, made the long trip to Hickstead in Sussex worthwhile when winning the NSEA Eventer’s Challenge on 3 June 2016.

This was a complete surprise for the newly crowned National Champions who had travelled to the event with low expectations and were really only looking forward to the opportunity to ride at the hallowed All England Jumping venue.

“Unfortunately two of our team members had to drop out after the entry stage but, just when we thought we would have to withdraw from the competition altogether, we found two willing and clearly very capable reserves!” said Emma Guinness, the team manager.

The team of Kitty Guinness, Tatiana Wharton, Amber Williams and Anya Hitt, all aged just 13, showed huge maturity, holding their nerve over a stiff 80cm course of show jumps mixed with cross country fences amidst competition from 11 other teams all of whom had qualified from across the country.

“Poles were dropping like flies but it was the optimum time that accounted for so many faults and, where some jumped clear, they were often penalised for being either too fast or two slow. Our girls rode beautiful, intelligent rounds and by keeping time faults to an absolute minimum we came out the winners!” said Tatiana’s mother, Rebecca.

“The irony is that as the prize giving was due to be unmounted, plus we weren’t really hopeful of a place anyway, we had already begun to get organised for the six-hour journey home and the horses were all unplaited and relaxed in their stables. So when the organisers approached us asking whether we would mind getting them all out again as they thought it would be nice to have some ponies in the arena for the prize giving, we still hadn’t guessed what was coming! 

“It was only when they produced the ‘NSEA Champion’ emblazoned rugs for the ponies to wear into the arena that we realised what we had achieved!! It more than made the enormous effort of getting to these National Championships worthwhile and we are now all working hard to qualify for the next one!” she added.

In a day full of both surprise and excitement, team member Kitty Guinness and her pony Just Alfie also won the 80cm individual scurry class with an almighty six seconds in hand over her nearest rival. “I couldn’t believe it,” said Kitty afterwards. “If it never happens again I wouldn’t mind as this has been quite the best experience ever and I’m over the moon with Alfie!”