SPORT

Swimming Success

Another great team achievement by the Scotch Oakburn Swimming team at the SATIS carnival held at the Hobart Aquatic Centre yesterday. The team took home all but one shield in a tremendous display of teamwork, strength and staying focussed during a long day. Well done to all students on your dedication to your training and performance on the day.

Ali Foot
Head of Sport

Equestrian

Our Equestrian team made hay while the sun shined, enjoying a sunny day at the Paul Coulson Memorial All Schools Gymkhana in Westbury on Sunday. It was heartwarming to see the athletes participating together, riding in pairs, and, my personal favourite, riders performing in a Team of Three.

The riders truly cherished the team experience, and it was wonderful to witness students from across the junior and senior schools, ranging from Year 1 to Year 12, coming together to share this enjoyable experience.

While the team achieved success by bringing home numerous trophies and ribbons, the true value of the event extends far beyond the impressive results. This success was the result of a colossal team effort, involving both parents and students.  The day yielded exceptional horsemanship, genuine friendships, and invaluable mentoring.

I would like to express my gratitude to all the families for their support and contributions, which played an integral role in making this event such a resounding success.

The team performed well winning three of the four trophies on offer:

• The overall Top School
• Best Performing Primary School
• Top team of Three, being Mercedes James, Annabel Peddie and Marnie Lyne.

The team’s top three showjumpers, Charlotte Chilvers, Annabel Peddie and Aggie Lyne narrowly missed out to Launceston Grammar School for the top Showjumping team trophy.
It was a privilege to be part of the strong and supportive team spirit that makes equestrian such an engaging sport.

Joy Russell
Person-in-Charge of Equestrian

Equestrian State Representation

Seven College riders have been selected for the Tasmanian team to compete at the 2023 Marcus Oldham College Australian Interschool Championships. Congratulations to Abbi Lloyd-Bostock, Ashlea Rees, Daisy Willows, Ella Nast, Lucy Johnston, Meg Kilby and Sophie Ranson.  Daisy Willows has also been named as Vice Captain of the team.  They will compete in Dressage, Showjumping, Combine Training and Eventing during the upcoming Term break.

Ali Foot
Head of Sport

Sports Mindset

Gymkana Magic!

With only two weeks to go until the end of Term, I decided to visit sports I don’t usually see when committed to a whole sports season, and last Sunday I visited our equestrian team at the Gymkana held at Westbury Showgrounds.

I have to say I was quite surprised by the mindset required of our Equestrian team.

For example, not only are the riders responsible for their own mindset, but they are also responsible for their horses’ mindset, ability and behaviour on the day.

I saw many great examples of how our students not only coped with their own requirements as a rider but also guided their horses along the journey to winning.

One of the biggest reminders of how ‘relationship’ works in mindset focus was the extraordinary need of a rider to be mindful of their ‘partnering’ relationship with their horse.  One might ask, why is this necessary?

What if your mindset is all ready to go, you are mid-competition, especially a jumping competition, and your horse doesn’t want to jump a particular part of the course?  The rider has to stop their momentum and tend to their horse’s mindset, calm them down, and do whatever it takes to help them continue with their jumping.  This might take a couple of turns, but they must make it after three attempts, or they are disqualified from the competition.

I asked one of our riders what was she thinking after the first balk, and she replied that she felt saddened, when I asked about the second time, she said she knew they weren’t going to get through that day.  What a true acknowledgment of the acute partnership that has to occur between the horse and its rider.   What an amazing mindset this young rider had to go through this journey and keep on riding, no matter what.

At the end, of the day, I saw another rider help a new horse win their second and hardest jump competition of the day.  I saw how they worked together and their absolute focus on the job to get done provided them with the winner’s flag.

I take my hat off to all our College riders.  They were an amazing team to watch and I do hope you enjoy the photos we have here so you can see their determination, their wins and their gentle relationships with their horses.

Well done riders.  You are true role models for all of us in sport who want to focus on being our best in all our relationships.

Rev Grace
College Sports Mindset Coach