YORKSHIRE event rider Samantha Widd is celebrating after taking the top spot in the JRN class at the recent Aske Horse Trials in North Yorkshire.

Sam, 17, who is based at Etton, near Beverley, and is a student at Bishop Burton College, has been on the JRN programme for two seasons and was determined to qualify for the JRN Championships in 2010 with a view to joining the BEF Regional Foundation Programme.

In the three regional qualifiers held so far this season at Richmond, Hexham and, most recently, Aske, Samantha and her own 14-year-old Dutch warmblood Splodge enjoyed sixth, fourth and first-place rosettes respectively. “It seems to be our season,” said Samantha. “We have been working hard on our flatwork with my trainer, Jayne White, whom Splodge loves. “My eye and technique for showjumping and cross country is down to the expert teaching and advice of Gary Parsonage.

“Splodge can be sharp and has bags of attitude, but more often than not his attitude works in our favour.” The JRN programme culminates in the JRN Championships, which this year will be run under FEI rules at Weston Park in Shropshire in October.

In order to qualify for team selection, riders must compete in at least two of four regional qualifiers and achieve first, second or third place. At Hexham, third place went to a rider from outside the area, meaning Samantha and Splodge achieved the selection criteria.

They have now qualified twice for selection and will wait to hear whether they have made it on to the team.

“I've got my fingers crossed that the phone will ring inviting us to compete at Weston Park, which would be a dream come true.”