LOFTUS rider Daniel Nielson was on top form at the recent Hambleton District Show, writes Malcolm Bewsher.

Held at The Barugh, Carlton Husthwaite by kind permission of Mr A G Knowles, the event featured courses designed by Brian Candler and Graham Emmerson.

Daniel filled the top two places in the 1.15m junior open on Master Mondeure and Micklow Madness ahead of Laura Jewitt on Highling Flash of Fortune. He also won the Table A7 Handicap with Guinness Special ahead of Adeline Kelly on Captain Sam and Pippa Allen on Midnight Dynamite.

Daniel, whose three ponies have all qualified for the Royal International Horse Show in July, also recently attended the Junior Classique at Johannesburg in South Africa, winning a team gold medal on borrowed ponies.

Helen Smallwood took the small pony open on Metric and also the round for Hickstead in the winter 128cm finals ahead of Northallerton's Alice McCullagh on Crystal Canyon.

Jodie Ward riding Stainsby Style took the Scope junior novice qualifier ahead of Jodie Spencer on Just Jet, while Boroughbridge's Jamie Newnham took the junior Foxhunter on Blue Monday ahead of local challenger Hollie Davies on Western Andy.

Sarah Wade and Yukon Melody took the junior newcomers.

The seniors produced over 12 hours of jumping with Whitby's David Harland taking the 1.10m open on Teds Way ahead of Sarah Blakey on her prolific winner Ferndale Summer Breeze.

Scott Brash, based at the Barkers' Northallerton stable, rode Jimmy Small's Temple Ginger to take the Great Leighs Newcomers ahead of Fay Norman riding Unsure.

The Scope 1.15m open went to Nicky Hartle on Zendry, while other winners were S Throup, S Pooley and L Forty.

Results. - Small open pony: 1 H Smallwood; 2 A McCullagh; 3 V Roberts. A7 handicap: 1 D Neilson; 2 A Kelly; 3 P Allen.

Scope junior: 1 J Ward; 2 J Spencer; 3 M Kirkby. Blue Chip newcomers: 1 A Wright; 2 H Stevenson; 3 S Wade.

Squibb & Davies Foxhunter: 1 J Newnham; 2 H Davies; 3 M Kent. 1.15m open: 1 & 2 D Nielson; 3 L Jewitt. Charles Owen British Novice: 1 S Pooley; 2 M Gray; 3 A Evans. Scope 1m novice: 1 A S Troupe; 2 C Hill; 3 L Welsh. Equimax Discovery: 1 L Forty; 2 A Peacock; 3 A Atkinson. Great Leighs Newcomer: 1 S Brash; 2 F Norman; 3 D Harland. 1.10m open: 1 D Harland; 2 S Blakey; 3 E Denton. Scope 1.15m open: 1 N Hartle; 2 A Cowan; 3 K Leak.

* More show results next week.