Show jumping in the school has continued to grow, with up to 16 different students competing for the school at different times throughout the year. There have been a number of inter school competitions this year where our pupils have represented the school to a very high standard.

Mossvale runs for a six month period over the winter and requires a lot of dedication and effort from both riders and parents. We had two teams this year, The Bandits including Grace Gilmour, Nathan Gault, Sammy-jo Bell and Katie Wray and the Hot Trotters who included Katie Wray, Kara Johnston, Kerri Hill and Kirk Johnston. The Bandits came third overall at the end of this winter league.

Laurelview, this is a new league which we entered for the first time this year. The team for this was Alison Crother, Gemma Rainey, Beth McFarland, Rosie Ramsey and Laura Fekkes as reserve. They gained an overall third place after five months of competition and continue the Ballyclare High School tradition of an excellent first place in Tack & Turnout.

April saw a one off event in aid of the Special Olympics. Four teams were entered by the School, Russell which consisted of Grace Gilmour and Sammy-Jo Bell, both riding two ponies as other riders ponies were either ill or lame. They won the senior competition and the senior Tack & Turnout.

The other teams were entered for the intermediate class, Aiken consisting of Nathan Gault, Kerri Hill, Katie Wray and Sarah Kinnear. They came second in the jumping and third in the Tack & Turnout.

The Brann team consisted of Victoria Henderson, Natasha Henderson, Sarah Cuthbertson and Sarah Kinnear. They came sixth in jumping and first in the Tack & Turnout.

The third intermediate team were Dixon, whose riders were Gemma Rainey, Beth McFarland, Rosie Ramsey and Laura Fekkes. They came second in the Tack & Turnout.

The combination of sponsor money came to over £2700 which was a very credible sum.

Silverwood competition on Easter Tuesday did not suit most of our riders but Grace Gilmour represented the school on an individual basis, from 119 individual entries and 48 through to the jump-off. Grace took first place with the fastest time.( by 0.08 sec) What a performance!

The season continues right through to June and future results will be recorded in future updates. Watch this space!.