Borris Vocational School has a very strong equestrian tradition led by teachers Ms. Gemma Murphy and Ms. Rita McMahon with the excellent support, time and effort of our wonderful parents and wider school community. Horses are part and parcel of our wider community, and this interest in horses is reflected in our students every year.
Showjumping at secondary school level is ferociously competitive, yet Borris Vocational School is considered one of the top showjumping schools in the country. BVS open showjumping team have an impressive record in the All-Ireland Interschools League, winning the competition outright in 2017 and again in 2019 and coming in 2nd place overall in 2022. One of our open individual riders also came 2nd out of 60 competitors in the 2022 individual league. In 2019 and again in 2022, BVS open riders were ranked in the top five showjumping teams in Ireland based on the team’s performance in the All-Ireland Interschools League. On foot of this ranking, Borris was selected, along with five other schools from the South, to compete in the prestigious Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland. The top ten schools North and South of the border battled it out in the main arena in Balmoral and Borris emerged in an impressive 2nd place on both occasions. On the international stage in Hickstead in the UK, the BVS open team represented the school with much pride in 2017 and again in 2019. In showjumping, it really does not get much bigger than Hickstead.
But the Borris team of 2019 were unstoppable and emerged as outright winners, bringing home the top prize. Meanwhile, two of our open riders were 7th and 8th individually. At novice level, Borris also punches above its weight in showjumping. In Hickstead in 2019, two BVS novice riders secured 3rd and 8th place individually. While in the 2022 Interschools League, one of our novice riders secured an impressive 4th place in the individual category. As a school, Borris also hosted a leg of the Interschools League in 2022. Held in CoilÓg Equestrian Centre in Naas, the day was a resounding success and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The 2023 Interschools Showjumping League is about to commence, and we are again welcoming back our veteran riders and extending a warm welcome to the newcomers from across all year groups.