A YOUNG rider from North Yorkshire took top honours at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead last week.

Eleven-year-old Alice McCullagh, of Great Smeaton, near Northallerton, won the 13hh working hunter pony championship with her home-produced pony Little Storm.

The pair, who qualified for Hickstead by winning their local event at Kirkleatham, Redcar back in May, beat 29 other top competitors on the day.

Alice, a pupil at Yarm School, has already posted a series of top results on the county show circuit this year, including a win at the Staffordshire Festival to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show.

Her mother and trainer, Clare, was delighted with the result, but has never doubted the partnership's capability.

She said: "Alice works hard at whatever she does and has an amazing talent for getting the best from her ponies. She deserves this result".

Alice has also excelled at school this year, winning a governors' merit award for achievement and the prize for the most improved athlete in her school year. She is also studying the saxophone at grade seven.

Mrs McCullagh added: "Little Storm is a nine-year-old locally-bred pony who still has his best years ahead of him. Alice is also one of the youngest in this class and is eligible for the next three years."

The combination's busy schedule includes major outings to the Ponies UK summer championships and the BSPS championships during August, followed by the Horse of the Year Show in September