RIDERS defied the inclement weather to attend the final showjumping competition of the winter season at Irton Riding Centre on Sunday.

Di Feaster, from Hamley Hagg, got the day off to a great start when clinching victory in the 75cm riding the eye-catching coloured, Easter. Tina Williams took the runners-up slot riding the chestnut gelding, Venn, and following a high octane jumpoff, just one hundredth of a second separated the top two riders.

Carly Mansfield was in third place riding Classic Gold.

The 85cm went the way of Sophie Shepherdson and her useful grey, Rivervale Park Pippin, after the combination set a very fast time that proved unbeatable on the day. Di Feaster took second place and Lauren Finnigan finished in third riding Dennis.

There were only two clear rounds produced in the first round in the 95cm and both riders battled it out in the jump off to finish within one second of each other. Just ahead on the clock and so the victor was Paula O’Donnell riding the bold jumping grey, Guinness, while the runner-up slot was filled by Sophie Shepherdson.

Entries for the ponies were badly hampered by the ever worsening weather and, as a consequence, just one class took place heralding a win for William McCarthy and Flash Harry. William also filled the runners- up slot with his other ride, Dylan. Third place went the way of Gabriel Hodgson riding Chloe