NINE-YEAR-OLD Pippa Allen from Stainsby Grange, Thornaby, has been on tremendous form in the last seven days to secure tickets for the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead in July, writes Malcolm Bewsher.
Pippa, trained by her parents Paula and Peter, won her first ticket at Arena UK, Grantham, when she finished fourth in the winter 128cm on Duncrynes Jungle Bunny.
She travelled the following weekend to Rowallan activity centre in Ayrshire and finished second with Midnight Dynamite to take her second ticket. Pippa was also fourth in the Grand Prix.
Last year she was due to compete at the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham with Stainsby Starburst, but sadly broke her arm and could not take part. The horse, ridden by Louise Saywell, finished sixth.
Pippa, who started competing in Tiny Tots at the age of seven, was in the gold medal-winning England team last year with Mary Reveley's Cappagh Misty.
The versatile Red House School pupil also competed last week in the national schools athletics cross-country championships in Nottingham, putting in an excellent performance to finish fourth.
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