Borders schools excel at national equestrian championships

Pupils from several of the Borders schools excelled at the prestigious National Schools Equestrian Association Championship held at Addington Manor in '¨Buckinghamshire,

ELSPETH BURNSIDE SPORT IN OUR SCHOOLS PHOTOS ROWING Albyn School rowers EQUESTRIANISM X 3 1) Samantha Martin (Touchwood) 2) left to right - Katy McFadyen (Mileage For Milo), Alex Edgar (Benaughlin Lady), Vicky Edgar (Ardagh Bobby), Rahel Keddie (Bermos Lady), Amy Ralston (Curravordy Builders Blue), Katie Edgar (Eryns Og) 3) left to right - Alex Edgar (Benaughlin Lady), Vicky Edgar (Ardagh Bobby), Katie Edgar (Eryns Og), Katy McFadyen (Mileage For Milo)

More than 900 horses and riders competed in the finals, including 25 riders and 35 ponies representing Kelso High School, Jedburgh Grammar School, Earlston High School, Selkirk High School, Peebles High School and SRUC Barony College.

Kelso Senior 2 pupils – Katy McFadyen (Mileage For Milo), Katie Edgar (Eryns Og), Vicky Edgar (Ardagh Bobby) and Alex Edgar (Benaughlin Lady) – held off more than 40 teams from across the UK to win both the 75cm Showjumping Championship and the 75cm Jumping With Style Championship. Those four girls along with Kelso High’s Amy Ralston (Curravordy Builders Blue) and Selkirk High’s Rachel Keddie (Bermos Lady) were asked to ride for Scotland in a Nations Cup competition and won a very close contest against very good English and Welsh teams.

Vicky, Amy and Katy also reached the final of the individual 75cm showjumping and, in a nail-biting jump-off, Vicky finished second, Amy third and Katy fourth.

Former Jedburgh Grammar School pupil Samantha Martin (now riding for SRUC Barony College) and Touchwood won the Dressage Nations Cup for the Scottish team with a very good score of 74.58 per cent, and also won the P19 test with a fantastic 80.20 per cent.