ELLIOT TOHVER-KIRBY
TWO national and international local vaulting champions returned to Trinity College this month to put on a show for the school’s equestrian program students.
Last Friday, equestrian vaulting champions Jamie Hocking and Skye Barrowcliffe, graduates from the class of 2015, visited Trinity College to give the equestrian team demonstrations of their sport.
“Jamie is in Europe on a regular basis,” Helen Barnes, the school’s equestrian co-ordinator said.
Jamie is currently ranked 17th in the world and competes nationally and internationally.
Skye has also just returned from Europe where she has been competing internationally.
During the event, The Acacia Gold Vaulting Club donated the time of ‘Reggie’, a vaulting horse.
“We had about 20 students participate in that,” Ms Barnes said.
“They were all actually privileged enough to have a go on the vaulting horse, which was just fantastic.
“Then Jamie and Skye did a demonstration of what they can do with their skills, it was really exciting.”
Ms Barnes was also approached before Christmas by the Adelaide Polo Club and asked if she would like to submit riders from Trinity College to attend a free Andrew Williams Clinic.
The clinic was run in January over two days by Andrew Williams, one of Australia’s top polo coaches.
“I chose six riders to attend that. It was absolutely brilliant, they all did the school really proud,” Ms Barnes said.
“We were very well received and have been invited to attend again which is very exciting.”
Some of the students had only learned to ride at the school and it was their first experience outside.
Trinity College has six horses which the students have the opportunity to compete with in open equestrian competitions for the school.
“We’ve got an increasing number of children participating with the program. I do try and get them exposed to other disciplines in the equestrian industry,” Ms Barnes said.
“We’re actually the only school in the state that offers a program like this.”
The Equestrian club covers everything to do with horses, from looking after them, feeding, grooming, and saddling.
“It’s not just about kids learning how to ride, it’s about everything,” Ms Barnes said.
“We’ve actually had a number of kids from the program go on to find their own horses having learned the skills through the program.”
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