Yass High School year 11 student Lucy O’Sullivan competed at Sydney International Equestrian Centre in Eventing, representing Yass High School at the NSW Interschools State Championships from July 1-3.
The conditions were horrendous, with Sydney receiving up to 100ml of rain each day; however, the Eventing (combined scores from Dressage, Show jumping and cross country) still went ahead.
With the rain really starting to come in, Lucy and her horse, Sandford Park Blue Steel, rode a super dressage test.
The cross-country phase is notoriously dangerous, particularly in torrential rain. The horses can lose their footing and slip over. However, Lucy rode the perfect course with no faults and within the allowed time.
The show jumping phase was also ridden in the pouring rain, and many horses were dropping rails. Lucy’s horse knocked one rail down, which gave them four penalties.
They finished in 4th place overall, which was a fantastic effort, considering many did not even finish.
Lucy has now been offered a place in the NSW Eventing Team to compete at the Australian Interschools Championships.
Yass High School says they are extremely proud of Lucy and Sandford Park Blue Steel. The work these two have put in to get where they are and to produce such great results is to be commended.
Southerly Jones
