Pangbourne College's equestrian team has made school history with two remarkable performances at the prestigious Royal Windsor Horse Show and the Hickstead National Schools Championships.

A talented young team comprised of Olivia (Year 11), Sophie (Year 10), and Maisie (Year 10) represented Pangbourne in the Services 1.05m showjumping class at The Royal Windsor Horse Show in May. Competing against 17 elite teams - including the Household Cavalry, the RAF, the Police, Sandhurst, and the Bahrain Defence Force -  the trio delivered fast and clear rounds to place Pangbourne first after the opening round. It was an unprecedented achievement in the college's equestrian history.

In the second round, Olivia rode solo for Pangbourne and delivered another excellent performance, securing an overall second place finish - narrowly missing the top spot to the Royal Air Force, whose team includes Olympic-level riders. With King Charles watching and the iconic Windsor Castle as a backdrop, the experience was truly unforgettable for the pupils.

Olivia’s outstanding performance didn’t stop there. She went on to win the Under-25 Junior Rider category, further underscoring the level of talent within the team.

The team followed up their Windsor success with another stellar showing on Friday 27 June at Hickstead in the Hurst College National Schools Jumping Championships. Competing at Hickstead is considered a highlight in the equestrian calendar due to its prestigious history, challenging courses, and vibrant atmosphere. The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead is known as the "home of British showjumping" and hosts some of the most important equestrian events.

Amy opened the day with her debut round at 1 metre -  a bold and commendable effort on such a significant stage. Lottie Costello impressed with a 6th-place finish in the hotly contested 1.10m Hickstead Elite NSEA Individual class, which featured over 50 riders.

Not to be out done, the team of Oliviar, Maisie, Sophie, and Connie stormed to victory in the 1 metre team competition - beating 23 other schools and 92 riders, including renowned equestrian schools like Millfield, Wellington, and Stonar. Olivia also placed 3rd individually in the same class.

Pangbourne’s triumph at Hickstead is a landmark moment. It cements the school’s status among the top equestrian programmes in the country.

These two successes are on top of previous outstanding performances at the Hickstead Elite NSEA Show Jumping back in May, when the team were placed second, a class that sees only the 1st and 2nd places teams qualify from across the country. The team also came 4th in the National Schools Equestrian Association County finals - a class that only the high performing schools from the winning counties attend. 

A special thank you goes to Director of Equestrian Stacey Donnison, whose dedication and expert coaching were instrumental in guiding the team to success. Her tireless efforts in training and support on the day made these extraordinary achievements possible.

Congratulations to all the Pangbournian riders for their hard work this year and fantastic achievements..