Eleven-year-old Charlotte Blenkin from the Sinnington Hunt branch of the Pony Club beat off the competition from over seventy other qualifiers from across the country to achieve a magnificent win in the Show Jumping section of the 2014 Pony Club Novice Championships.

Charlotte, on her pony Hillside Monet, rode three impeccable clear rounds to clinch her victory at the Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre in Cheshire. Hosted by the Cheshire Hunt North Branch, the excellent facilities provided the setting for the final competitions in dressage, show jumping and eventing.

Set on an undulating grass arena, the first round was set at 95cm increasing to 100cm for the second. The last round was for the thirteen riders who had achieved a double clear and was against the clock. Despite being one of the youngest in the competition, Charlotte kept her nerve for the jump off to secure the champion’s trophy. Second place was won by another Area 3 branch member, Ossian Fletcher, on Bobby Jack who rides for the Holderness.

Charlotte’s mum, Sarah said, “It was a simply amazing weekend! The show jumping course was quite a challenge as it is deliberately built on an uneven part of the site. Although there were a lot of clear rounds at 95cm, once the height went up it proved too much for most of the entries – all of whom have done brilliantly to get to the championships in the first place. The event is very busy and there is quite a ‘big’ atmosphere but that didn’t seem to faze either Charlotte or Hillside Monet who behaved perfectly all weekend.”

In the eventing section, the Sinnington PC was represented by Sophie Milestone, riding Bellindene Norman. They completed a great double clear to finish on their dressage score of 32.8 to take 11th place in their section.

Both girls were supported by their team trainer, Steph Robson who travelled to Cheshire for the weekend to look after riders, ponies and parents!