Horses have been a part of life for some students at All Saints' College for as long as anyone can remember. However, on the last day of term in 2011 this activity became more organised with the formal election of an All Saints' College Equestrian Club Committee. The Committee will allocate horse paddocks for agistment, organise training days and interschool competitions, run the annual All Saints' College Showjumping Day and establish an equestrian code of behaviour.
The Committee determined that one of the first tasks that needed to be undertaken was the extension of the arena and spreading the sand that had been kindly donated by the Hooper Family. The old round yard was removed to allow the whole area to be used for “flat work” and jumping. On the students' return to school for Term 1 in 2012 a working bee was held to reinstate the perimeter fence and clean out the feed shed and tack room.

Toby Farraway in the bob-cat and Ruth and Peter Crampton assisting on the ground.
The Farraway family were most generous in providing the use of a bob-cat to spread the sand and level the extended area. The machine was expertly operated by ex-student Toby Farraway who had, the week before, come second at the Pony Club State Championships (Year 9 student, Sarah Farraway, came away with a first and a second in her age group and is now eligible to ride for NSW in the National Championships).
.jpg)
Sarah Farraway participating in the 2011 All Saints' College Showjumping Day.
Ruth Crampton, from the All Saints' Equestrian Grounds Committee organised for several trees to be removed and their stumps ground down and worked alongside Toby and me in stick-picking and removing any protruding tree roots. Anthony Stockman arrived on Saturday, generously donating his time and excavator to remove the stumps that were too large for the bob-cat to handle and also install some drainage.
The working bee commenced at 12 noon on Monday, 30th January and was immediately split on gender grounds, with Sarah Wrigley, Emily and Madi Sinderberry, Jane and Lindsay Menzies, Amber Stockman and Xanthe Morgan tackling the clean- up in and around the tack room (railway carriage). Ruth, Catie and Libby Crampton continued their wonderful work from Friday and Saturday removing unwanted rubbish and tree roots from the arena.
Paul Sinderberry, Greg Woodlock, Darren Stokes and Peter Crampton set to work on the fence panels and found the ground extremely tight but were happy with their achievement. Father Paul came over to offer his moral support and was amused when Greg informed him that three blokes with shovels, a tape measure and a man of the cloth didn’t make a good mix.
Unfortunately, time constraints and a heavy downpour terminated work before the entire job was completed. However, the area is now vastly improved and will be finished off shortly.
Richard and Rachel Trounson were unable to contribute to the working bee but have kindly offered 120 bales of hay as a fundraiser for the Equestrian Club.
I take this opportunity to welcome the new members and thank everybody who assisted in kicking off the year in such a positive manner, including Trevor Maher, Gavan Carter and Simon Morris.
Peter Crampton (Chairman, ASC Equestrian Club Committee)