The Aysgarth Equestrian Team enjoyed an extraordinary few days at the NSEA National Championships 2025 at Addington, competing against some of the very best school riders in the country, many up to 16 years old, and in Venetia’s case, even against 18-year-olds.

This year, Aysgarth was represented by two teams of four riders, with the Azure Team consisting of Theo B (10), Hettie (9), Harry (11) and Finlay (12). The team competed in the 70cm showjumping event, tackling challenging, technical tracks against much older and more experienced riders. The team’s efforts were outstanding, finishing 6th overall out of 37 teams, which is a superb achievement.

Our four more inexperienced riders in Team Admiral gave their absolute best, showing huge determination and promise throughout the competition. With experience comes success, and we are so excited to see what they will achieve next year as they continue to grow in confidence and skill.
   
Individually, Theo and his pony Sparkles had a day to remember, finishing 2nd out of 169 riders in the 70cm class after a thrilling jump-off, missing the top spot by just over a second!

In the 80cm class, Venetia placed an impressive 8th out of 159 riders, helping her team to a 13th-place finish, while in the 90cm class, she went on to secure 6th place out of 142 riders, which is an extraordinary accomplishment given the calibre and age of the competition.

Hettie also competed in the 80cm Combined Training, finishing 11th individually, while Felix competed bravely in the Plate Championship 70cm showjumping. Theo, Hettie, and Venetia represented their regions in the Nations Cup, proudly flying the flag for the North of England and the Borders. Felix competed in the Plate Championship - 70 cm showjumping

A further mention goes to Harry, who was part of the qualifying team but, despite not competing at Addington, played a valuable role in securing Aysgarth’s place at the Championships.

Reflecting on the team’s performance, Coach Eleanor Mercer (Level 4 Senior Coach) said:
“I was extremely proud of all the children as they had to ride up-to-height technical tracks and cope with championship pressure. You don’t just have to remember where you are going — riders need to stay focused, balanced, and accurate while riding at speed. To perform with such skill and confidence in a highly charged atmosphere, especially during the evening indoor finals, shows the hard work and dedication they have put into training, supporting one another as a team, and most importantly, enjoying their ponies.”

It was a truly unforgettable experience for the whole Aysgarth team, who rode with courage, composure, and great pride. Congratulations to all our riders and an enormous thank you to Eleanor for her expertise, fine-tuning, and those now-famous turns.