A NORTON woman has won one of the biggest grassroots horse-riding titles in the country.

Lois Teal, 21, was crowned champion at the 2018 Mitsubishi Motors Cup last weekend.

Lois, riding her eight-year-old German-bred gelding Z7 Catastrophe, was competing in the British Eventing BE100 class at the competition held at Badminton.

For a long time it looked like Mitsubishi Motors Cup holder Katie Hancock - the winner for the past two years - was going to make it three years in a row, but the five penalties she collected from the showjumping turned out to be expensive as she finished the day in the runner-up spot.

For Lois there was nothing to add to her dressage score of 27.3 following two penalty-free jumping phases, which left her with a 2.5 penalty advantage over her closest rival.

Lois said: “I really enjoyed it. I’ve got a really good team behind me and I’m quite laid back person.

“We thought if he [Z7 Catastrophe] didn’t suit me he’d suit my brother as a hunter – my brother didn’t get him.”

Her prize for first place was a Mitsubishi car for a year - she can choose which model - as well as a trophy, rosette, a new riding hat and £600. Hosted over the two days prior to the famous international Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire, the Mitsubishi Motors Cup brings together winners from regional finals from around the country to contest the overall British Eventing Championship held at BE90 and BE100 level.

The cup is a varied event. The dressage phase takes place across the whole of the first day of competition and the morning of the second day, after which competitors will move on to the show jumping arena before taking to the final cross country phase.