A TEAM from Beaminster School made the long journey to Bury Farm Equestrian Centre in Buckinghamshire to compete for a second year in the county showjumping championships representing Beaminster School and the county of Dorset.

The riders – Milly McIntyre, Mollie Diment, Poppy McIntyre and Maddie Ware were competing in the 80cm class with more than 30 other teams.

Each competitor had to jump two rounds.

Parent Michelle Humphreys said: “First to go was Tabitha riding Certain Flair and they were going really well until an out of character mistake at fence seven resulted in a horrible fall, with Flair struggling to miss landing on Tabitha.

“Our hearts stopped and we were so relieved when both horse and rider got up unscathed. Tabitha was still smiling, dusted herself off and was checked over by the medics, but sadly the fall meant she could not ride in the second round.

“Abigail, riding Tigora, was next to go and but sadly had the last pole down in an otherwise great round, and then Charlotte on Ballyseedy Dawn and Mollie riding Brock Bangle both rode lovely clear rounds. They all went to find Tabitha to make sure that she was okay, showing how much the team members look after each other and really care about each other.

“The second round was jumped in the indoor school, a totally different experience to jumping outdoors. Abigail, jumping first, was going really well until Tigora jumped fence eight very strangely, and she then had a couple of poles down. It was only after they left the ring that the team was called to the secretary to collect Tigora’s shoe that had fallen off.

“Charlotte was the next rider and rode a lovely round but sadly had a pole down, and last to go Mollie rode a storming round, but an unfortunate stop meant that she had four faults. The team finished on 28 faults, just outside of the top 10 teams. It was a pleasure to be a part of what was an eventful but amazing weekend with the team."