ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Alice McCullagh and her 28-year-old show jumping veteran Dickens rounded off the summer season in fine style at the Horse of the Year Show last weekend.

The pair from Great Smeaton jumped the 128 national finals in the international arena at Birmingham on Saturday morning, finishing a very creditable ninth.

Alice was delighted with their performance, saying: "A top ten finish against the best in the country with this old boy is a fantastic result. He is so dependable, he just wants to go on and on."

Her mother Clare added: "Although this was Alice's first outing in this category at the finals, Dickens showed his experience and they both really enjoyed the occasion."

Alice's number one mount Little Storm was unfortunately sidelined from the working hunter category due to a minor injury sustained during the build-up to the event.

It has been a great summer for the Yarm School pupil, who was selected as the youngest member of the England team for the international championships.

Taking victory at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead was also among the highlights.

The winter season begins already this weekend with the first outing for Alice as captain of the Yarm School team at the schools team event staged at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate on Sunday.