EIGHT County Durham and Cleveland riders have qualified to compete in the Equiline novice and discovery championships at the Blue Chip winter championships.

The event is being held at Solihull Riding Club from April 8-13.

Those taking part are Stephen Pitt, from Stanley; Joanne Little and Robert Shields, Crook; Katherine Jacques, Wingate; Rebekah Reay, Haswell; Sophie Cuthbert, Stockton; Clare Ramsey, Billingham and Emma Wright from Saltburn.

Several junior riders from across the region have also qualified for the Kitt junior championships at Solihull.

They are Daniel Neilson, from Saltburn; Sally Adams, Stockton; Hollie Davies, Yarm; Charlotte Bolster, Hartlepool; Brad Valks, Barnard Castle; Victoria Jones, Consett; Lydia Mellor, Ripon; Holly Stevenson, Northallerton and Stefan Wray from Bedale.

Classy entries for Hornby Castle meeting

POINTING resumes in our area on Sunday with the West of Yore meeting at Hornby Castle, where a six-race card starts at 12.30, writes Richard Watts.

The feature race, the mixed open, looks to be a cracking contest.

High class hunter chaser Trade Dispute is entered, together with Young Lorcan, who is unbeaten so far this year following wins at Witton Castle and at Market Rasen last Sunday.

Sikander A Azam, another Market Rasen winner, and Prominent are other very useful animals entered in the race.

The confined also looks a hot race, in which the Tuer pair Backsheesh and Son of Anshan look to be the pick.

New date for Hexham event

A NEW date has been set for this year's Hexham Horse Trials in an effort to give more people the opportunity to attend the event.

The event will take place on Sunday and Monday, June 1 and 2.

The larger course - open intermediate, intermediate and novice - will be jumped on the Sunday and the pre-novice and the new intro course the following day.

Intro is a completely new course at Hexham, built to the same high standards and safety specifications with a maximum height of 1m.

It is designed to give novice horses and riders an introduction to eventing.

For further information, call Edward Pybus on 01434 682645.