Equestrian Scholar aims for new heights under GB flag

Photography : Jump in Action

NTU Equestrian Scholar and overall BUCS National Champion Lizzie Baugh is hoping to reach new heights this season as she makes the long-list to represent her country for a second time.

The student aims to build on an exceptional year, having achieved 9th place in last year’s Young Rider European Championships, finishing top three internationally in Senior events and most recently coming out on top as BUCS National Champion with NTU Equestrian.

Now Lizzie has her sights firmly set on the 2018 Young Rider European Championships, where she hopes to represent Great Britain for a second time.

Riding for GB is something Lizzie has dreamed of since she sat in the saddle for the first time aged three. She initially competed in local dressage and show jumping competitions before picking up the pace aged 12, when she began to focus on eventing.

She competed in the National Under 16 trials for two years, achieving top ten finishes at this level before progressing to represent the Midlands team in Under 18.

The young rider’s competitive career took off in 2017, Under 21 category. She had a string of good results, including 3rd, 2nd and 1st in consecutive national trials before finishing 12th at the National under 21 Championships.

The results brought Lizzie’s dream within touching distance, as she was then long-listed to represent GB at the 2017 Young Rider European Championships in Ireland.

A 6th place finish in the final trial secured her selection to represent GB as an individual at the competition, where she would go against some of Europe's best young riders. On the day Lizzie put on a determined performance to land herself in 9th position, the second highest placed British rider at the event.

She capped off her 2017 season by making her mark at international Senior competition in Belgium, placing in 7th and 2nd to be the highest placed British rider in both classes.

Now Lizzie hopes to be selected for the 2018 Young Rider European Championships, and there’s no horsing around when it comes to her preparation.

Triumphant, NTU Equestrian at the recent BUCS Nationals

Lizzie said: “I usually ride four or five horses every day, and what I do varies depending on the horse.

“Training with my main horse, Quarry Man - or Bradley at home - will include a variety of jumping, flat work [non-jumping], hacking [long distance outdoor riding] and interval gallop training to keep him fit and ready for the cross country element. We also receive tuition once a fortnight to go through dressage tests and fine-tune in the build-up to competition.

“I keep myself fit namely through riding, but I’ve also been doing pilates and strength and conditioning throughout the year, provided as part of my scholarship.

“Last year Bradley and I were selected to represent GB, and I’m working hard to ensure we’re both ready to put in a good performance at the final trial next week.

“To achieve my dream of representing my country in my sport last year was phenomenal, and to have been long listed to potentially do it again is amazing and means such a lot to me.

“Hopefully the final trial will go well but you never know with horses - there is always a lot that could go wrong!”

Lizzie enters the summer as the 2018 BUCS overall Champion, where NTU Equestrian put on incredible performances in dressage and show jumping to take both the team and individual win for the university.

NTU Sport are very proud to be represented by talented athletes like Lizzie, and wish her - and of course Bradley - the best of luck ahead of upcoming final trials!