THE Wainwright family, from Fridaythorpe, had a busy week, making two journeys down to Hartpury College in Gloucestershire.

Ben, 14, riding Platinum Dreamcatcher, qualified for the JC 85cms and the JD 95cms, where in the 85cms they managed 10th place with a double clear.

In the 95cms, where 109 combinations took part, Ben and Platinum Dreamcatcher managed to go even better, securing a fourth place.

Then it was back home for a day to have a switch of horse and rider for second trip with Jack, 17, in the British dressage winter finals riding the chestnut, Dark Bacardi.

The pair had qualified at the regional final at Bishop Burton a few weeks ago in the restricted freestyle to music with a score of 74.1 per cent.

Jack and Dark Bacardi, having their first attempt at the national championships with British dressage, did a wonderful test coming out with a score of 70 per cent to be placed sixth overall, the highest placed rider under 25, second-placed amateur rider and to have the highest-placed British-bred horse, no mean achievement on the pair’s first attempt.

Jack and Ben’s mother, Sally, said: “We feel so lucky to be even competing at the finals, that even if they both came last, I am so proud just to see them in that arena competing at that level.”

Another North Yorkshire rider, Natalie Widdowson and her mount Gorgeous George IV also made an appearance at the dressage finals where the pair finished eighth in the medium open freestyle and came 11th in the Prix St George test.