Athletics

Jess Downing in Year 10 represented Presdales in the virtual English Schools Athletics Association competition last week. You could only enter one event so she chose the 75mH. After not doing hurdles for months she managed to come 6th and she got herself a new (unofficial) PB of 12.4 secs!

Ellie Bostock in Year 9 also competed in the shot and did really well and came 2nd!

Ellie finished the season with a new PB of 12:37m. She is currently ranked joint 5th in the UK and the 4 above her are in the year group above.

Well done to both Jess and Ellie for fantastic achievements in athletics.

Presdales Equestrian Team latest report for The National Schools Equestrian Association

At Presdales, we are very fortunate to have the support of the head teacher, Mr Warren and his staff, in competing at The National Schools Equestrian Association competitions. Any school can form a team and compete in a hotly contested sport, where all abilities are on a level playing field, whatever background you are from. Some of the top fee paying schools in the country, Millfield and Stowe, being but a couple, take part in these competitions. The Presdales team has been shining through all the two years that they have been going, this summer being no exception. We have a squad of 8 members including, Ruby Barrs, Evie Lodge, Connie Harrington, Lily Hankins, Ruby Robinson, Lucy French, Darcy Wright and Freya Naylor Stewart.

Eariier on in the year, back in February, a team of 4 managed to qualify in a show jumping class for a highly prized place at The Royal Windsor Horse Show. Out of the 15 teams they were the only 1 that qualified in first place and to go onto to take part in a Championship class against schools from all over the country, due to take place in May at Windsor Castle.

Unfortunately as events unfolded this show was cancelled. The NSEA organisers waited until certain restrictions were lifted for this kind of sport to continue, and then they did a brilliant job of re scheduling the Championships to take place at Hickstead in East Sussex last week over 3 days. To put Hickstead on the map, it is in the horse world akin to going to Wembley in the football world, so for equestrian enthusiasts it is an important location. There were strict protocols in place to safeguard all the competitors and the restrictions included things like not having any spectators, social distancing etc. which everyone adhered to.

Our team consisting of Freya Naylor Stewart, Darcy Wright, Connie Harrington and Ruby Barrs and they were the last team to go in the class. Each team member had to jump a clear round to even be considered for a place, and the second part of the round was timed so the fastest round could also be counted in the event of equal penalties. Since we were the last team to go, everyone else in the competition were watching to see if we would beat anyone else, in four nail biting rounds our girls not only beat everyone but they won the whole class! To say we were thrilled was an understatement, and our cheers rung out around the whole show ground.

Out of our squad we had 6 members taking part in very strong classes across the 3 days. Ruby Robinson and Evie Lodge entered, unfortunately Ruby’s transport failed her, but Evie and her non horsey dad braved the dreadful wind and rain last Tuesday to compete which she did admirably. Freya and Ruby competed again on Thursday but not returning this time with any prizes.

Our little team has certainly put Presdales on the map with equestrian sport and thank you to all the parent support teams.

We say thank you to the school for allowing us to compete and to the organisers for managing to put on the show.

By Ms Naylor (Equestrian Team Organiser)

If anyone is interested in joining the team please contact Mrs White in the PE department or ask your daughter to come and collect a letter from the PE office.