One team on campus stampeded to the win the weekend of April 22nd. On Sunday, April 22nd the 19th Orange County interscholastic Equestrian League held their annual banquet. Competing against about 60 other schools, Palos Verdes managed to take home 28 awards and the overall school champion.
With individual awards, everyone cleaned up this year. Taylor Golden won the medal final in the Novice English division. Juliana Farrow won the championship for Western Novice: Trail, Showmanship and Pleasure and was Reserve champion in horsemanship and the IEL Stock Seat Equitation medal. In the freshman Hunter division, freshman Isabelle Collins was the Hunt Seat Equitation and IEL Equitation Reserve medal champion. In the junior varsity jumpers, Lauren Heimer was Optimum Time Reserve champion and Taylor Moore was Reserve champion in Pure Speed and champion in Optimum Time and first round, Timed Jump Off. In varsity, hunters, Amanda Steffan won the Hunt Seat Equitation championship and the Reserve championship for working hunters. In the varsity jumpers division, Terra Wallace was champion in all three of her classes.
In divisions overall, Julianna Farrow gained the Western Novice overall individual championship and therefore Palos Verdes high school was the Western Novice Reserve champion high school. Taylor Moore was the overall Junior Varsity Jumper champion with the high school placing Reserve champion in the junior varsity school. Terra Wallace was the overall Varsity Jumper champion with PVHS winning the varsity school championship. The Novice Division Reserve champion school was also Palos Verdes High school.
Overall individual trophies included: Terra Wallace and Taylor Moore winning overall English Rider champion and Reserve champion. Julianna Farrow won overall Western Rider champion.
A special award was given to junior Clare Burke. To be awarded, Burke had to take a written test and a horse practicum. She competed against several hundred applicants to win. Burke was honored with a trophy and a monetary award.
At the team banquet, the equestrian participants received their certificates of completion and those individuals who have competed actively for at least 2 years received their varsity letter .
The Equestrian team would like to thank not only their trainers who helped them achieve the goals of school championship and individual awards, and the parents of the team who were the coaches and supported the athletes at every show. Coaches Stefan, Vargas, Heimer, Huben, and Simeral did a fabulous job of providing support for the team.
Keep up the good work Seakings. Try to win the league championship for the seventh year in a row!