KATY Davison made the long journey to Warwickshire College and it paid dividends when she finished in the line up at a National show jumping championship.

The 14-year-old had won a hard earned place at the Dengie Pony Club Winter league Show Jumping Championships.

Thousands of young riders, all aged 21, set out to qualify for the final from across the British Isles, with only 80 making it through to the final.

Katy, who was representing the Glaisdale Hunt Pony Club, faced a testing first round course in the competition on her 14.2hh grey Connemara pony Ranger.

"I was very nervous coming into the final but you have to go for it" admitted Katy, a pupil of Laurence Jackson School Guisborough.

"You really had to concentrate at every fence in the first round - there were two combinations included and some really wide fences, which came at you very quickly although the course flowed nicely."

Katy jumped a neat and controlled round to join 19 other competitors in a timed jump off against the clock over shortened course. The fence heights were also increased.

"The jump off course was quite twisty and you had to maintain your concentration to make sure you were properly set up for each fence," said Katy.

Katy remained focused throughout her jump off round and came home clear - just one of three clear rounds - one of only three riders to complete a double clear-to finish in third place.

She was rewarded with a Dengie rug for her pony, a coat for herself, a championship rosette and a British Show Jumping Association membership voucher.

It was a particularly impressive success as Katy's journey down to the final can only be described as a nightmare, having broken down twice en route. The second breakdown involved a snapped timing belt on the M1. Katy's appearance in the final was in extreme doubt at this stage until a helping hand came from the local garage.

"The man at the garage said he couldn't leave us stranded and towed us through the remainder of our journey to Warwickshire college," said Katy. "Ranger was finally in his stable at 10.30pm - 12 hours after we'd set out."

The success celebrated Katy's first anniversary with Ranger.

"I've been having training with Whitby's Cara Shardlow on the run up to the final, and she was pleased I'd done so well," said Katy.