Millfield School Orange claims Junior Team honours

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Millfield Prep School was victorious in today’s Junior Schools competition at the Hurstpierpoint College National Schools and Pony Club Jumping Championships, held at Hickstead (4 August).

They finished eight faults clear of Newbridge College from Co Kildare, and Eastbourne College from East Sussex, who shared second place.

The winning 'Orange' team of Darcy Zander (riding Trewithien Bracken), Bronte Monks (Ardwholihan E Hero) and Marina Jolliffe (Blaencanaid) finished on a team score of zero, after all three riders secured clear rounds in the International Arena. They were the only team to also produce a clean sheet in the qualifying competition in the outer rings, meaning none of the three riders has touched a pole all competition.

All three riders mainly concentrate on eventing, but proved themselves to be equally adept in the showjumping arena today.

Darcy returned to Hickstead for the second year in a row to compete in the championships. She events up to Novice and Pony Trials level. “I came here last year but our team was 11th and missed out on qualifying for the International Arena,” she said. “It was a bit overwhelming to ride in here today, but I just focused on my round.”

Her team mate Marina competes up to BE90 on her pony, who is known at home as Ed. “I was really nervous today, but coming here is amazing.”

Team member Bronte Monks, who also finished second individually, is already competing at BE90, having won her first affiliated event, and is now hoping to move up to BE100 level this season. “I feel really privileged to be at Millfield and to compete here,” she said.

Finishing just a fraction of a second faster than Bronte was our overall Junior individual winner, Georgia Thomson and her skewbald pony Super Snoop. Georgia has been riding the nine-year-old for only nine months, and she’s another keen event rider – competing up to BE100 level.

“I’m honoured to win here,” she said. “In the jump-off I have to just sit up and keep my leg on, and he sees the flags and jumps between them.”

For full results click here.

Millfield Prep School claims Junior Team honours