Both of Warwick Riding's BUCS teams faced their first competitions on Wednesday 19th November.

After 6 weeks of intensive training with their new instructors in both dressage and showjumping, we had two very successful teams. The first team was changed at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances, but with last minute training under their belt they confidently headed down to Oxford and rode extremely well.

All four riders held their own in both the dressage and the jumping placing third and beating the home team! Becca Wrelton also secured an individual 5th placing after winning on her showjumping horse. The second team travelled to Nottingham to compete against two of the best teams in the Trophy League, Birmingham and Nottingham Trent both of whom secure regional placings each year. All four riders performed extremely well in the first phase dressage and ended only two penalties behind the home team, Nottingham Trent.

Initially, they went into the showjumping confident, but having seen the horses misbehaving when the home yard was showing who was who, they were a little more nervous. That said, all four riders rode confidently and secured team second place ahead of Birmingham, and only behind an extremely talented home yard! Alongside this, Hattie Collins, the team's newest recruit earned a well deserved individual fourth at her first competition and Heather Barton received her highest placing for the second team in third place. Both teams are looking forward to upping their training and aiming high for the next three competitions!