School sports equestrian: Norval hits new heights with golden display

Published on 11/09/2012 00:56

Fourth-year Kilgraston School pupil Rebecca Norval made history by striking gold in a thrilling discipline at a leading international equestrian event.

With two near-perfect rounds, Rebecca (15) and her partner Andrew McLachlan came first in the Pas de Deux in the FEI European Vaulting Championships in Slovakia.

It is the first time that a British pair have won the European title in the spectacular gymnastic performance by two people on a cantering horse.

In the Individual competition, Rebecca was placed a creditable 17th out of 36 competitors which was a great achievement for her first Individual selection.

“Rebecca and Andrew put in an amazing first round on their horse, Tylers Kernal, and led Germany by 0.5 points with Austria in third place,” said their delighted coach John Eccles.

“In the final round, they pulled off an almost perfect freestyle. It was excellent.

Kilgraston’s Director of Sport Pauline Stott added: “Rebecca has reached a new high in her equestrian vaulting career.

“She works so hard and it’s great to see her efforts paying dividends.”

Vaulting owes its beginnings to military training in ancient Greece where originally a rider had to both achieve balance and carry weapons.

Today, it’s practised by both men and women, competing together in teams or separately as individuals.

Over 170 athletes and 54 horses from 15 nations competed in the event in the Areál Zdravia Rozálka equestrian centre in Pezinok, Slovakia.