Rachael leaps into new sport with grace

THOMAS More College’s (TMC) primary school’s SPAR Star of the Month is Rachael Easson.

Rachael has represented TMC in various sports and sporting teams this year. She is a member of the school swimming squad and represented the TMC girls’ squad at the Durban and Districts B League gala, is a 1st team netball player, a 2nd team hockey player and represents the school at Equestrian SANESA shows.

“Outside of school Rachael loves dancing and horses. She has participated in Karen Drake Dance Studio’s choreography show for ballet, has recently passed her Grade 4 Cecchetti exam and is currently working on level 7 for American Performance Awards in November,” said her mom, Toni.

“Having a Scottish heritage from her grandfather, Rachael has been involved in Highland dancing with the KZN Academy of Celtic Dance,” said Toni.

This year Rachael competed at the South Coast Highland Gathering and placed second in four of her six dances and was awarded second place overall for both her sections of the competition. She was part of the Love of Dance production at the Playhouse in June and has also participated in various displays over the year, including Music of Scotland.

Rachael competed at the South African Highland Dancing Championships and Inter-Provincial Challenge in Johannesburg in July.

At the SA Champs she placed first, third and sixth in her four dances and was awarded the Christopherson Trophy as the runner up in her section. She received fourth place in one of her national dances. At inter-provincials she placed third, fourth and sixth in her four dances. She also passed her two Highland dancing exams with commended plus and highly commended.

This year Rachael also competed in equestrian events for the first time. She has only been riding her horse since April this year and competed at three local SANESA Core League shows. This enabled her to enter various disciplines and she has shone in the dressage, prix caprilli and working rider events, achieving two first placements, four second placings and a third placing at the shows.

She was selected to represent KwaZulu-Natal (and TMC) at the SANESA Core League Nationals at Kyalami during the recent school holidays. Her show jumping team placed fourth overall.

Rachael has been awarded her full KZN provincial colours for her participation at nationals. “She proved herself as a mature, responsible young lady as she took her duty of caring for her horse very seriously, and had a whole lot of fun making new friends,” said Toni.

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