Meet the South Australian Equestrian Interschool Team for 2022
From picking up the reins at the age of three to competing under the bright lights of Sydney – Meet SA’s Equestrian Interschool Team for 2022.
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What is cooler than competing in your favourite sport at a previous Olympics games venue? Maybe heading there with two dozen of your closest friends.
26 high school students from South Australia will travel to Sydney at the end of this week to compete at the Australia Interschool National Championships
The competition, which runs from September 24 until the September 29, will be held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre and will attract more than 2,000 school based competitors, family, friends and supporters from right around the country.
While South Australia may have one of the smallest teams heading into the competition, team captain Sophia Craddock reassured to not count them out.
“We’re small, but we’re definitely mighty,” she said.
“We have unfortunately missed out on events like this over the last two years but we’re so excited to get to Sydney and see all our friends we haven’t seen for a while.”
Coached by former Olympian Megan Jones, the SA squad have come off a busy showing at the Royal Adelaide show, saying it was the perfect preparation for the big stage.
“We’ve been busy and it’s been a lot to organise, but I feel excited and it’s really exciting for the younger kids who will be competing at this level for the first time,” Sophia said.
Competitors, aged 5-18 years old, are required to qualify through from the State Interschool Championships to the Australian Interschool Championships.
The event is continuing to grow year on year and is a major focus for young equestrians.
It is the largest equestrian grassroots program delivered nationally in Australia.
Meet some of the team’s stars below.
Abigail Lewis, 17
As one of the three team captains, Abigail Lewis started her equestrian career at the young age of three.
“I was born in the UK and our next door neighbour had ponies, as I was so young I don’t remember much about why I started,” she said.
“I’ve always loved being able to have a connection with another animal, it teaches you a lot of great life skills and it’s a very rewarding sport.”
From that moment on, Abigail spent many if not close to all her weekends competing in the sport she loves.
“It’s very hard to say but at this point it would be somewhere be in the high hundreds if not more as I’ve competed most weekends since I was about 7 years old.”
She was also awarded the Gillian Rolton Youth Scholarship for showjumping in 2020/21.
Sophie Gardiner, 15
After finding her passion for horses as a young girl, Sophie Gardiner’s love has taken her all the way to the national stage.
“I have competed at many royal shows and national and state competitions since 2014, when I was 6 years old,” she said.
“My highest accomplishment in the sport would be being selected onto the 2022/23 South Australian Dressage High Performance Squad.
“This squad is for all ages of riders who are competing from advanced level to the highest level (Grand Prix).
“So it is a great accomplishment to be selected onto this squad at the age of 15.”
Harry Manning, 12
Despite being the only lad on the squad, Harry Manning is excited to head over the Sydney in South Australia’s small, but mighty team.
“My whole family are riders. Mum, Dad and my sister,” he said.
“Mum and Dad rode horses since they were kids and compete at National level until my sister Ella and I started riding and then they stopped so we could ride more.”
“My most memorable achievements so far are winning the Show Hunter class at this years’ Equestrian Australia National Show Horse Championships and in the same year winning the SA Interschool Primary Show Jumper of the Year.”
Annabel Manifold, 17
It may have taken Annabel Manifold seven years to become serious in her field but she has proven the be worth the wait.
“I first started riding, because I saw how much joy it brought to my family and it was something that we could all share the same passion in,” she said.
“What stood out for me was the amazing friendship I have formed riding. These friendships have been from different clubs and completions and make a sport that is competed in as an individual so much more enjoyable.”
Annabelle Knowles, 12
After announcing to her Armah that she would be a horse rider at the age of three, Annabelle Knowles has kept that promise.
“It took another three years for my parents to organise my first riding lesson,” she said.
“I started riding once a month, then it was every fortnight, not long after it was weekly.
“I loved it and wanted to ride more so I my parents got me my first pony, Tony the Pony.”
Annabelle sights making the 2022 South Australian Nationals Team her biggest accomplishment to date.
Micaela Butler, 16
Specialising in dressage, Micaela Butler began riding in 2013.
“I had a big love for horses and when I got the chance to actually ride one I found it really enjoyable and continued on from there,” she said.
Olivia Barrette, 16
Olivia Barrette sights her passion for animals and the environment as the driving force behind her love of horses.
“I started riding at around 9-10 years old,” she said
“I have always had a strong passion for animals and the environment, and therefore, horse riding was a sport I was drawn to immediately.”
I would say around 50-60?
Olivia was awarded the Interschool Intermediate Dressage Champion for 2019, and currently holds the State Champion title for Combined Training 60cm.
Holly Wotton, 9
As one of the youngest in the team, Holly Wotton says she always wanted to ride before eventually falling in love with the sport.
She has now competed in over 100 competitions and looks to give Interschool a good crack on her horse, Bookra Pocket Edition.
Katrina Brokus, 14
Katrina Brokus has loved horses since she was a young girl after being around her parents horses and riding her first at the age of two.
She sights her biggest accomplishments winning both 80cm and 90cm showjumping, four times in a row.
Eliza Spiers, 13
After getting her first pony at the age of three, Eliza Spiers remembers watching her mum ‘fly’ around at cross country events.
“It definitely made me excited to do it myself,” she said.
Mia McMurtrie, 13
Mia McMurtie has been eventing since 2017, but riding her whole life and has since competed in more than 30 events.
“I loved the adrenaline the sport gives to you and just generally love competing and travelling with the horses,” she said.
Matilda Whitehouse, 15
Winning the Reynella Horse Trials EVA 65 event twice and making it the SA Interschool team twice, Matilda Whitehouse’s hunger for the sport is still growing.
“I’ve loved horses from an early age, but Erickson is the first horse I have owned,” Matilda said.
“He is particularly special as he only has one eye.
“We have a great partnership and have learned so much together in the past three years. I love the connection between rider and horse.”
Ella Manning, 15
Ella Manning began competing at the age of five and can’t imagine a life without her four legged pal beside her.
“Both my parents were competitive riders their whole lives so we have always had horses and I have just grown up with them,” she said.
“I haven’t really known life without the horse being a part of it.”
Competing in the combed training and show jumping events at Nationals, some of Ella’s highest accomplishments are winning the same National title three years in a row in show horse, winning South Australian Junior Rider of the second years running and winning my first Junior Show Jumping Championship class earlier this year
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