HURSTPIERPOINT College became showjumping’s front runner as it welcomed the country’s top talent to Hickstead.

Hundreds of young showjumping talents flocked to Sussex on Friday for the annual Hurstpierpoint College National Schools and Pony Club Jumping Championships.

As usual, the show was supported by Hurstpierpoint College, and headteacher Tim Manly said: “Every year and at every level, I have always been deeply impressed by the spirit, dedication, discipline and the comradeship displayed by every one of the young equestrians who try their hand at this great competition.”

Millfield School, from Street in Somerset, had a fantastic result in the Senior Schools competition, finishing first and second in the teams section and winning the individual title as well.

The team was made up of Teddy Stevens, 18, on Casall George; Charlotte East, 16, and Clear Dawn; and Phoebe Lock, 14, on Quay.

Youngest team member Phoebe has only recently returned from the Pony European Championships, where she was part of the British Eventing squad for Team GB.

Her Millfield team mate Charlotte East also events up to BE Novice level and is aiming at her first one-star.

She said: “I came here last year when our team finished second, so it was nice to be in first place today.”

Teddy Stevens, 18, who has just completed his final year at Millfield, was riding his experienced 10-year-old showjumper Casall George, who he jumped at last week’s Longines Royal International Horse Show.

Individual honours in the Senior section went to Victoria Garfield-Bennett and the locally-bred Billy Crunch, who were part of the second-placed Millfield School Blue Team.

South Notts Hunt Branch of the Pony Club were the runaway winners with a clean sheet, having had three clear rounds. Their team comprised Alice Stubbs, 19, on Who’s Oscar; Sam Shaw, 18, on Druids Stone; Francesca Marriot, 18, on Remi Peroni and Natalie Bell, 22, on Princess B.

Natalie said: “I’ve always wanted to win this, it’s one of the biggest competitions there is and I’ve been coming here to Hickstead for five years.”

The individual prize went to Leah McCrady and Ryans Hollie, who were representing the Garth Hunt Branch of the Pony Club.

Leah, 16, had not competed at Hickstead since she was a 10-year-old competing in 128cm classes, and she was delighted to make a winning return to the All England Jumping Course.

A total of 18 teams started the competition, with the top 10 qualifying to compete in the final in the International Arena.

With a combined team total of just 4 faults, the riders from Kilkenny College – Monica Cairns, Iseult Cahill and Alice Varian - could not be caught, making theirs a very worthwhile journey.

Dean Close and St Leonards Mayfield finished joint second on eight faults.