Students and riders connected to the College of West Anglia celebrated a successful week at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Equestrian Championships, securing top placings while helping showcase the quality of the college’s equestrian provision on a national stage.
The championships saw riders from the Cambridge University Equestrian Team (CUET), who train regularly at College of West Anglia Cambridge campus, compete against the UK’s leading university teams. Several Cambridge riders delivered standout performances despite balancing competition commitments with end-of-year examinations.
In the Trophy team showjumping competition CUET secured third place, with Emily Finnegan finishing third individually and Ruxandra Ursache placing sixth. Emily’s result was particularly impressive after being drafted into the team at short notice when other riders were unable to compete due to exams.
The following day saw competitors take part in the Championship Dressage competition. Cambridge riders all rode well but sadly without any riders progressing through the brutal first knockout round.
The following day the team regrouped and produced an impressive response in the Championship Showjumping competition. Two riders progressed through the opening knockout round, while team captain Rachel Jackson advanced to the third round, finishing sixth individually. Cambridge also secured second place in the team showjumping competition.
Those results helped Cambridge finish fourth overall in the national team standings and marked a historic achievement for the university, with the riding team becoming the first at Cambridge to be awarded Full Blues status.
The championships also highlighted the growing reputation of the College of West Anglia’s equestrian facilities. Earlier this year, the college hosted BUCS regional competitions at its equine centre, providing horses, facilities and coaching support. Feedback received during the national finals praised the quality of the horses supplied by the college, with competitors commenting on the high standard of the regional event hosted at CWA.
BUCS representatives also confirmed they would like the college to host regional competitions again next year, while enquiries have already been received regarding the potential use of CWA horses at future national finals.
The success highlights the strength of the College of West Anglia’s Equine Studies provision, which supports learners from further education through to higher education and provides opportunities to compete at regional and national level and take NHS qualifications alongside their studies.
The college’s equine centre continues to play an important role in supporting competitive riding, generating income that is reinvested into opportunities for riders, students and the wider equestrian community.
Emma Pewter, Programme Manager for Equine and Dog Grooming at the College of West Anglia said, “These results reflect the hard work, commitment and resilience shown by the riders throughout the year, particularly while balancing training and competition alongside their studies and examinations. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved.
“It was also fantastic to see the quality of our horses, facilities and event delivery recognised by competitors and organisers alike. Opportunities like these help develop confident, skilled riders while showcasing the strength of equine education and training at the College of West Anglia.”
