A 10 YEAR-old girl from Stillington has won gold at the Stepping Stones 138cm NAF Five Star Showjumping Championships.

Kate Anderson who was riding Coolconan Thunder (Firefly at home), was said to have put in a very stylish and fast jump-off clear to claim the lead ahead of the other six riders that had come forward to the second round.

Kate said: "I was really happy to make mum and dad so proud of me and show everyone what a good horse Firefly is. My dream is to ride at Olympia so I'm going to keep working hard and listening to my trainer."

She was the only rider to break the 30 second barrier.

Lily Watchman, also aged 10, from Darlington with her 14 year-old bay mare Buttons Two finished in second place.

Kate added: “I was the fourth rider in the jump off but had time to watch one go before me. My coach had said that if I get in the jump off I should make the turns but also to keep hold of him and that’s what I did. I made some turns that were tighter than I had planned and I was so happy when he made them so I just kept going forward."