A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl from Stillington has won gold at the Stepping Stones 138cm NAF Five Star Showjumping Championships.

Kate Anderson who was riding Coolconan Thunder (Firefly at home), was said to have put in a very stylish and fast jump-off clear to claim the lead ahead of the other six riders that had come forward to the second round.

Kate said: "I was really happy to make mum and dad so proud of me and show everyone what a good horse Firefly is. My dream is to ride at Olympia so I'm going to keep working hard and listening to my trainer."

She was the only rider to break the 30 second barrier.

Lily Watchman, also aged ten, from Darlington with her 14-year-old bay mare Buttons Two finished in second place.

Kate added: “I was the fourth rider in the jump off but had time to watch one go before me. My coach had said that if I get in the jump off I should make the turns but also to keep hold of him and that’s what I did. I made some turns that were tighter than I had planned and I was so happy when he made them so I just kept going forward."

Eva Harriman, 13, from Yarm won the national 1m Pony Restricted Rider title at championships.

Eva put in an impressive performance to take a clear lead in 40.27 seconds.

Riding Where’s My Colour, a 12-year-old brown gelding, Eva meant business from the start in the jump off by turning inside fences wherever she could to trim as many seconds off of her time.

Eva said: “I went into the jump off with a plan to go clear, believe in myself and make the turns that I felt I could. Riding in the main arena felt magical, it really did and I would really like to say well done to my pony as he jumped his heart out for me and he has absolutely made my day for me."

Harry Wood, 17, from Stockton, won the SEIB Winter Novice Championship on board Johidoki, a six-year-old bay gelding. He produced the only double clear of the championship. Harry kept the talented gelding in a consistent rhythm whilst making the most of the shortcuts available.

Harry has had Johidoki since March last year and has been building on the gelding’s performances since coming third in the national five-year-old championship last August.

Harry said: “I call him [Johidoki] Mr Reliable, if I’m ever having a bad day, he’s the horse I can rely on and it was great to get the win."