TRIO OF TITLES A FAIR ACCOLADE

College soars in Victoria

EQUESTRIAN: Fairholme College was confident of success heading into the Australian Interschool Championships, and the team of five didn’t disappoint.

Amelia Schooley took home national titles in the EvA80cm and CNC1 categories last week at Werribee, while team showjumping captain Becky Gillan claimed honours in the secondary showjumping 120cm.

The three titles gave Fairholme the honour of being Queensland’s most successful school at the championships after the students made the 3000km round trip.

“It’s a long trip down but we were travelling with our friends,” Schooley said.

“There was a really great atmosphere down there and it was exciting.

Schooley said she was amazed with how her two events panned out, as she was able to hold her nerves to claim dual honours.

“It went really well. In eventing you do the dressage, cross country and showjumping,” she said.

“I was lucky enough to have two good dressage scores on the first day and then I carried that through and came out with the win.

“There’s a fair bit of pressure. I wanted to do well for myself and certainly when I was leading on the last day there was pressure.

“It’s pretty unbelievable. To win one was amazing but to win both was pretty crazy.”

Alongside the accolades of the senior riders, Phoebe Riordan, Torra Macdonald and Bronte Rigney also played a key part in the school’s success.

Fairholme equestrian co-ordinator and Queensland Chef d’Equipe Tracy Sexton said the results were indicative of the effort all five put into the sport.

“It’s probably the best performance at a nationals for Fairholme,” she said.

“We’re very proud of the girls and they’ve spent a lot of time and effort to get to that level. They’ve all worked hard to get there.”

“The school is very supportive of the equestrian program and that certainly helps the girls achieve.

“We work hard to provide as much support and instruction as we can. Their time is limited because a majority of them are boarders so you have to work around the school and what you can do.

“It’s a great achievement to be a boarder and still get to that level.”

“I know how hard they need to work and how hard they have worked. They’ve got something to be very proud of.”

Photo: Sean Teuma SEAN TEUMA sean.teuma@thechronicle.com.au GREAT SUCCESS: The Fairholme College contingent who represented Queensland at the Australian Interschool Championhips (from left) Amelia Schooley, Becky Gillan, Phoebe Riordan, Bronte Rigney and Torra Macdonald.