Darlington Riding Club members were again in action at this year's British Riding Clubs national championships at Lincoln.

Caron Stokell and Angela Peacock, riding their coloured horses Chuckie Egg and Sam, were pleased to improve on last year's third place by finishing second out of 20 in the dressage to pairs.

The result was a good warm-up for the dressage to music championships in October, when they will defend their title.

Although Darlington's senior open show jumping team narrowly failed to qualify for the finals this year, Sara Metcalfe and her own horse Vader did qualify as individuals. It was the third year in succession they had represented the club.

From a strong field of 97, only nine went through to the jump-off with double clears.

Sara said: "The course was well up to height and if I had walked the jump-off course I would probably have gone home!

"The course designer said to us all after that he had struggled to get the imperial heights we were expecting with metric wings so he had decided to go above rather than below.

"I shut my eyes and Vader just sailed round. He was an absolute star."

The pair, who are training with Peter Allen from Stainsby Grange, went on to jump another clear with the fourth-fastest time and were "absolutely delighted with the result".

Sara was in contact with Tanya Buckingham, who was competing for Great Britain at the Junior European three-day event championships in Italy.

Tanya is sponsored by Sara through the latter's cross-country course business, Foxberry Chasers.

The texts passing between Lincoln and Italy grew increasingly exciting as both competitions progressed and the British team came home with a bronze medal to complete a good weekend for Darlington riders.