Zoe Whitehouse (13) and Ronie Thomas (13) represented John Kyrle High School in Arena Eventing Jumping with style at Allenshill Equestrian Centre in Pershore on Bank Holiday Monday, May 28th.

The girls and their ponies did extremely well in what was only the second JWS competition the girls have entered. They both won classes and quaified for the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) National Championships.

The Bank Holiday event uses a course of seven showjumps followed by a course of eight cross country jumps, all jumped in an arena. Competitors are judged on style and rider position, arena craft and reactions, as well as the horse and rider combination. If the results are tied then the winner is whoever came closest to the optimum time.

Zoe Whitehouse competed in the 70/75cm class on her pony, Sox, and they were given the maximum score. The judge really liked this combination and they won the class to qualify for the National Championships at Keysoe Equestrian Centre, Bedfordshire in October.

Ronie Thomas competed in the 80/85cm class on Jilly Baker’s pony, Didi. They also achieved a maximum score but unfortunately were too fast for the optimum time, so they were awarded third place, and qualified for the Championship Plate at Keysoe in November. Ronie also competed in the 90/95cm class getting another maximum score, this time taking first place and a place at the National Championships.

Zoe Thomas, John Kyrle and Gorsley School NSEA team manager told the Ross Gazette that it is extremely rare to get a perfect score.

On Sunday, June 3rd, Zoe and Ronie represented JKHS at the NSEA showjumping championship qualifier at King’s Equestrian Centre, Bromyard. Ronie won the 80cm class with Zoe coming second.

Only the top two individuals go through to the Championships. Both girls will represent JKHS in the 80cm class in the National Championships. They have both also qualified for the Plate Championship in other classes.

Zoe said: “This is a great achievement for the girls as they had to beat strong competition and will now to go on to represent JKHS in two different disciplines at the NSEA National Championships.”

Ronie and Zoe attended Gorsley Goffs Primary School where Mrs Atkinson allowed them to join NSEA back in 2014. Archie Thomas, who is ten and currently a pupil at Gorsley Goffs will continue to enter NSEA competitions when he joins John Kyrle in September.

He represented Gorsley Goffs Primary School at the NSEA Championship qualifer at Bromyard and came second, qualifying for the National Championships at Keysoe in October, on his pony Bobby.

Anyone joining JKHS in September who would like to be a member of the NSEA team representing their school should contact Zoe Thomas via email: [email protected].

The competitions are very high profile and Zoe would be pleased to welcome riders to the team.