Celebrating Charlotte's Achievements
An Unearthed article, published in The Sherborne Times, October 2026.
Charlotte, in the Lower Sixth at Sherborne Girls, started riding at three years old, and never looked back. A keen member of the Portman Pony Club, aged nine she joined Hanford where she made the most of riding the school’s ponies - early morning rides before breakfast being a highlight!
It was on the school’s cross country course that she began to develop a competitive edge and started taking part in One Day Eventing competitions, quickly learning the varied skills needed for dressage, show jumping and cross country. Her hard work and determination paid off - last year Charlotte, riding on Ronnie a grey Connemara pony, qualified for the 2026 Badminton Grassroots Championships. For a young event rider, the chance to compete on the hallowed turf of Badminton is comparable with a promising young footballer being picked to play at Wembley.
This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Charlotte, riding in front of the iconic Badminton House and lake and performing in front of large and very vocal, supportive crowds days before the international event in early May. Combining preparation for Badminton alongside revising for GCSEs was a challenge Charlotte pulled off. We will watch this young Dorset rider’s progress with interest!
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