By Nicholas Duck

Drouin show jumper Anna Eastley will feature heavily at the Australian Interschool Championships later this year after qualifying a second horse for her section, making her one of the youngest competitors to do so in its history.

Anna, a grade six student at Drouin Primary School, will be taking her beloved horse Benjie to compete in the 90cm primary show jumping thanks to a winning campaign in this year's Victorian Equestrian Interschools Series (VEIS).
It is her second qualification after qualifying with Reggie, at the Equestrian Victoria Interschool State Championships earlier this year.
With four places available for horses in the 90cm primary, Anna will be now making up half the team. Not only that, but another horse of hers is the first reserve, meaning if somebody can't make it she'll be up to three out of four.
While the interschool competition was a one-off event, the VEIS is made up of four across the year, with a competitor's best three results being taken into account.
"I was really excited and really happy," Anna said of her success.
Anna's mum Shari purposely kept the overall scores a secret from her daughter to try and keep her head in the game. The gambit worked, leading to Anna's victory in a final round jump-off.
"I was really happy but I was really scared to check (the scores)," Anna said.
"Everyone on the side was biting nails and gripping very hard and when she went over that (last rail) clear there were a few tears," Shari added.
Anna will be the only primary school student in the state to have two horses competing at the same event. The only other team member to accomplish the same feat is in year 12.
Benjie is a retired race horse and according to the family has been a favourite of everyone on the circuit.
"Everybody loves Ben. Benjie turns up and everyone loves him...he's Mr Dependable," Shari said.
Anna will now turn her attention to the national event in Sydney later this year.
She's "really happy" to have two horses to ride, though admitted it was going to make for a bit of work once she was there competing.
The Australian Interschool Championships will run from September 25-30 at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.