Last month saw the long-awaited return of the Interschool Dressage and Showjumping competitions, which were well attended this year.

Organised by Karen Begley, head of school at Carisbrooke College, there were 16 secondary and 13 primary teams going head-to-head in the dressage.

This included students from Carisbrooke, who dominated the secondary school podiums, with three teams from the school finishing in the overall top four.

Isle of Wight County Press: The Carisbrooke College team with event organiser and head of school, Karen Begley, left.The Carisbrooke College team with event organiser and head of school, Karen Begley, left. (Image: Contributed)

The results were as follows:

Secondary schools

Team Result

  • 1st Carisbrooke B
  • 2nd Carisbrooke C
  • 3rd Ryde School with Upper Chine
  • 4th Carisbrooke D

Individual results

Section A BD 13

  • 1st Millie Tombleson-Power - Carisbrooke College
  • 2nd BL - Island Free School
  • 3rd Ruby Harper - The Bay C of E School
  • 4th Elizabeth Waghorn - Carisbrooke College
  • 5th Poppy Hughes - Carisbrooke College

Section B BD 13

  • 1st Matilda Messenger - Ryde School with Upper Chine
  • 2nd Oliva Hedley - Christ the King 
  • 3rd Freya Rann - Carisbrooke College
  • 4th Hollie Baxter - The Bay C of E School

Section C BD 24

  • 1st Freya Jones - The Bay C of E School
  • 2nd Freya Rann - Carisbrooke College
  • 3rd Oliva Hedley - Christ the King 

Primary schools

Team Result

  • 1st Arreton
  • 2nd Newchurch
  • 3rd Ryde School with Upper Chine
  • 4th Niton

Individual results

Section A Led Pony club D

  • 1st Nancy Sheen - Hunnyhill
  • 2nd Alfier Jones- Newchurch
  • 3rd Charlie Matthews - Brighstone

Section B Pony club D

  • 1st Faith Sturrock - Binstead
  • 2nd Chloe Thearle - Hunnyhill
  • 3rd Freya Pope - Arreton

Section C BD 2

  • 1st Nancy Lee - Haylands
  • 2nd Sophia Peach - Queensgate
  • 3rd Evie Mannix - Queensgate

Isle of Wight County Press: Medina College in action in the dressage competition Medina College in action in the dressage competition (Image: Contributed)

In the showjumping competition, at Little Kennerley Farm in Godshill, there were 14 secondary and seven primary teams competing.

The Brighstone CE Aided Primary School horse riding team won first place overall in the showjumping team placings.

Students Skye McCullough and Bethany Benkjer, both seven, and Violet Elliot, nine, achieved clear first rounds, putting them in a great position as they sent into the second round whilst included a timed jump-off.

Skye, on her pony Yasmin, had the speediest round of the day, which resulted in her achieving an individual first-place out of 25 riders.

Bethany and her pony Echo were next, coming away with an individual second-place, and Voilet, also riding Yasmin, secured an individual third-place.

The girls gained top three placing, which resulted in Brighstone winning first place overall in the team placings.

Secondary schools

Team Result

  • 1st Carisbrooke C
  • 2nd Carisbrooke A
  • 3rd Ryde with Upper Chine C
  • 4th Ryde School with Upper Chine A

Individual results

Section A 2’0” - 2’3”

  • 1st Isobel O’Sullivan - Ryde School with Upper Chine
  • 2nd Oliva Hedley - Christ the King
  • 3rd Hollie Baxter -The Bay C of E School

Section B  2’3” -2’6”

  • 1st Lucy Wilkkins - Carisbrooke College
  • 2nd Elizabeth Waghorn - Carisbrooke College
  • 3rd Chloe Tapp - Ryde School with Upper Chine

Section C 2’6” -2’9”

  • 1st Ruby Harper - The Bay C of E School
  • 2nd Freya Rann - Carisbrooke College
  • 3rd Elizabeth Waghorn - Carisbrooke College

Primary schools

Team Result

  • 1st Brighstone
  • 2nd Niton
  • 3rd Mixed team Newchurch, Binstead and Newport C of E
  • 4th Carisbrooke C of E and Ryde School with Upper Chine

Individual results

Section A Led 9”- 12”

  • 1st Skye McCullough - Brighstone
  • 2nd Bethany Benkjer - Brighstone
  • 3rd Violet Elliot - Brighstone

Section B Unled  9” - 12”

  • 1st Evie Caws - Niton
  • 2nd Chloe Thearle - Hunnyhill
  • 3rd Alice Critchison - Niton

Section C Unled  18” - 2’

  • 1st Pandora Wildish - Priory