Malton riding club were one of the area 4 clubs sending competitors down to Swalcliffe in Oxfordshire for the British Riding Clubs horse trials championships over three days.

The three contenders for Malton were, Louise Knock, Kathy Boothman and Jess Johnson who all qualified individually at the area competition at Breckenbrough near Thirsk in June.

Jess Johnson having her last year as a junior before moving up to the senior ranks next year, had a cracking time with the on form Mr Boyze in the junior one hundred section. The pair put up a good dressage test on the first day finishing on a score of thirty, putting them in fourth place after the first day.

Day two saw the roads and tracks and steeplechase with a ten minutes break before setting off over a very tough and undulating cross country course, the pair flew round within the optimum time leaving them nothing to add to their dressage score. The final day saw the pair jump a super clear round which moved them up to third place.

Kathy Boothman from near Pickering took her veteran ex racehorse; Buzz Lite Year to contend in the one hundred plus section along with Louise Knock from Barton le Willows, on her home bred Tullamore Dew.

The dressage day saw the pair finish with good dressage scores leaving them both in the top ten on the score board. The roads and tracks and cross country posed no problem for these two experienced riders, who both returned from day two with no faults to add to their scores.

Both still knocking on the door for day three and everything to play for, Louise managed a good clear round leaving them in third place overall in their arena and walking away with the highest placed home bred horse silver salver, sadly Kathy and Buzz had four faults to add to their dressage score but still managed to gain a seventh place overall.

Malton riding club secretary, Katie Robertshaw said “to have all three individual riders come home in the top ten placings was an amazing achievement, a testament to their dedication and club spirit, we would like to thank Erin Chan, Julie Johnson and Grace Smith for all their help and support for the riders over the three days”.