Our group leaving from Sydney Airport
Well it’s been a while since my last update, partly because of yearly exams, but also because I’ve been overseas! During the past holidays I went on a music tour to South America with my school. The trip took 18 girls from years 8-11 to Cuba and Chile, with the opportunities to visit schools and universities as a way of sharing learning new music styles. It was incredibly different to anywhere I’ve visited mostly because I’ve never been to a developing country, or a communist one at that. With all this happening it was a shock to realise that until the other weekend I hadn’t ridden in six weeks!
Me (third from left) and my friend Isobel with some young students at a music school in Coquimbo, Chile
I did managed to compete at Harden one day event the weekend before my exams and before I went away and I had my first win at pre-novice which was pretty exciting and funnily enough it was one of the few competitions where my coach Simon was there with me. So I’ll explain Harden in a nutshell. I started off by winning after the dressage on the Saturday. A positive start! The next day I had cross country in the morning and this was probably the scariest (in an exciting way) course I have ever ridden. I’m not sure I’ve ever gone that fast before and I made the time! (FINALLY!) In fact, only two people made the cross country on time and I was one of them.
We fly round the cross country course at Harden
Then it was time for the show jumping which, as you know is probably our weakest phase at the moment, but after our recent clear rounds I was feeling pretty confident. Two rails later I couldn’t hide my disappointment as I rode back the yards. I was untacking and feeling pretty sorry for myself, thinking that I’d well and truly lost my place. All of a sudden mum appeared, informing me that I was ten points ahead and as long as I hadn’t got any show jumping time penalties I’d still have a shot at first place. From here it was an incredibly stressful four hour wait for the results, which never actually ended up being posted. I was more stressed about my Harden result than my English exam the next day (woops) and I only found out when they announced at the last second, that I’d won.
The view from one of the hotesl we stayed at in La Serena, Chile
So having enjoyed Cuba I am now trying to get as much riding in as possible before heading to Silver Hills this weekend
Vintage cars and locals in Havana, Cuba
