Strathallan team win qualifier in Scottish Championships to reach national final
Strathallan School’ s team of Hugh Nichols, Sophia Henderson, Maia Fleming and Alasdair Macdonald have qualified for the National Schools’ Equestrian Association final in October.
The quartet won the qualifier in the 85cm class at the Scottish Schools’ Equestrian Championships staged at the Highfield Equestrian Centre in Howe of Fife.
They won the team dressage, show jumping and the overall combined training awards.
This is the first time a team from Strathallan has qualified for the National finals and they will be heading to Addington Manor in Buckinghamshire in the autumn to line up against the top teams from all over the UK.
In addition to the team event, Maia won the individual show jumping in the 75cm class and has qualified for the National finals in this event.
Continuing the winning streak, the Junior team of Maia, Isabella Angus and Emily Sinclair won the team dressage, showjumping and the overall combined training awards in the 50cm class.
Julie Summersgill, Strathallan equestrian teams coordinator commented: “This is a great achievement and I am so thrilled for the pupils. They compete at many local events but this is the first time that we have qualified for this National event which is a real testament to all their hard work and dedication to the sport.
“We are all really excited to be heading South in October.”
Meanwhile, Glenalmond College has been voted in the top ten Uk-wide for equestrians by School House magazine.
Glenalmond is the only Scottish school among its short list of The Best British Schools for Equestrians.
Glenalmond has an arrangement with a small livery. Pupils with horses are able to take riding as one of their sports options.
Andrew Rowley, head of PE at the school, said: “We are obviously delighted with this accolade.”