The 2023-24 season has been an incredibly exciting one for CUET so far! Beginning in early October with some very competitive trials applications, we were hopeful from the beginning that this may turn out to be another successful year for Cambridge Equestrian. Despite it requiring some tough decision making from Millie and I, we managed to set our three teams, all of which were looking very strong from the start with a great mix of fresh new faces and experienced BUCS riders!
This year, we’ve continued training at the College of West Anglia with with Emma Pewter (dressage) and Kate Newstead (jumping). We’ve now been here for three seasons, and still can’t quite believe our luck with the quality and range of horses we get to ride here – we’re also very proud of the number of compliments these ponies get from other teams! Training on everything from turbo-cobs to ex-eventers, we are never unprepared when we face the challenge of new horses at away matches.
Now coming to the end of Lent term, we are thrilled to be able to prove the benefits of our training! Following a clean-sweep season, we are thrilled to share the incredibly exciting news that the 3s have a guaranteed place at BUCS regionals! This is despite them being in the Trophy pool, which means they’ve largely been competing against 2s teams from other universities. In such a competitive, and let’s face it, unpredictable, sport, this is an incredible achievement, and we wish them all the best of luck. Not that they need it…Nationals is at the tips of their fingers!
The 1s and the 2s still have one pool match each as of yet, but we’re happy to report that both teams are also in great positions. They’re each currently on one win and one very close second place, so a win at their final matches of the season in March would make regionals a real possibility for them as well!
Other than BUCS, of course, we’re now deep into organising the long-awaited event of the year – the Equestrian Varsity match against Oxford! This year, it is going to be held at Warwick International School of riding on the 5th of May, a bit later than normal but giving us plenty of time to train (and hope for good weather!). We’re hoping to make this a proper event – we’ve even knuckled down on our socials this year in the hopes of finding sponsorships to make the day as big (and as fun) as possible. We absolutely can’t wait to let our teams show off all their hard work, and definitely plan on bringing home that red ribbon! Here’s to another successful season of BUCS riding!
Eve Mayes and Millie Green
CUET Captain and Vice Captain 2023-24