YOUNG showjumper Hayley Wall isn’t so much breaking down barriers as soaring over them.
The 10-year-old Glasshouse Christian College student has just landed her biggest achievement to date, winning four top placings at the Hygain Interschool Queensland State Championships.
The event, held at the Toowoomba Showgrounds in late June, saw Hayley riding her two horses, Black Layce and Diehard Diva across the weekend event.
The Year 5 student won on each horse – with Black Layce for the 70cm Primary Champion and on Diehard Diva for 80cm Primary Champion.
Hayley and Diehard Diva were also 80cm Primary Reserve Champions and 90cm Primary Reserve Champions. Hayley won the Golden Ticket for both of her horses, qualifying by being in the top four in each race and each horse must jump higher than 80cm.
“Hayley rode her heart out and so did her two horses Die hard Diva and Black Layce, you were allowed to compete on the one horse in two different jump heights,” Hayley’s mum, Kelly, said.
“In one of the competitions the round of height goes higher… you compete in three different jump round competitions.”
Although Hayley is currently enjoying competing at a local level, jumping at 1m, she also has one eye on the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. “Hayley would be turning 19 years old when the Olympics come to Australia, she would love to work towards the Olympics,” Kelly said. “The Olympic showjumping fence height is 1.6m, and has a maximum width of 2m.”
Hayley added: “My trainer is starting to push me to push 1.1m and 1.2m to continue to develop as a showjumper, and tells me what I need to do to improve.”
Following her efforts, Hayley has qualified for the Interschool National Championships, which will be held in Werribee, Melbourne in September. Hayley said qualifying for the interschool nationals is her biggest achievement to date in her professional showjumping career.
“I’ve only been competing professionally for three years but every event I win is an achievement in itself,” she said.
“If I ever lose an event, it’s just a learning experience to be better next time.” Hayley has also qualified for the PonyClub of Australia Nationals.