AN UNDERNOURISHED and beaten pony is turning out to be a winner for a Darlington girl, who is already a star athlete.

Stephanie Weddell, who is 13 next month, is off to compete in Warwickshire on seven-year-old Apple in September.

He ended up being a surprise present for her from Appleby Horse Fair three years ago when his plight touched her mother's heart.

Vanessa Tully said: "I saw this horse being whipped to get him into the river and decided immediately I was going to have him. The bidding started at £700 but I got them down to £450, minus £2 luck money.

"Because I had no intention of buying, I hadn't take any cash with me, so I had to borrow it from friends and pay it back the next day."

The 13.1hh Connemara pony, full name Appleby Bill, has started to repay his debt in other ways.

"He was a bit cheeky to start with," said Mrs Tully, who has a British Horse Society advanced instructor's teaching certificate. "He was thin and had black teeth because of a poor diet.

"But we have given him a lot of time, love and attention and he has put a lot of weight on now. We have done a lot of competitions and he has always been placed."

Apple and Stephanie won the South Essex Insurance Brokers' Junior Trailblazer 75m qualifier at Richmond Equestrian Centre, which takes them through to the finals in September.

Sport is an important part of life for Stephanie and her 14-year-old sister, Sophie, who are pupils at Carmel RC College of Technology. Sophie has a new eight-year-old thoroughbred, Jack, who also looks as though he has potential.

Both girls are members of Darlington Harriers and the Zetland Hunt Pony Club. They take part in cross-country, netball, hockey and athletics and have also taken up golf.

Stephanie broke five school athletics records this year. She also broke the town record in the 300m.

Her achievements gained her a Carmel athlete of the year trophy. Sophie won the cup for the under-15 girls' cross-country championships, with her sister second.

Stephanie's ambitions? "I want to do eventing and I would like to be an equine physiotherapist," she said.