THE EVENT: Horton moves step closer to title defence (From Swindon Advertiser)

THE EVENT: Horton moves step closer to title defence

10:56am Thursday 16th February 2012 in Other Sport

RIDGEWAY Pony Club’s Holly Horton, 15, has booked her ticket to the second round of the Dengie Winter League Pony Club show jumping series.

The Dengie is a well established national competition for Pony Club riders across the British Isles and it has fond memories for the Swindon teenager, who won the national final in Warwickshire last year on her mount Sweet Delight.

She will now be hoping to make it through the regional finals to defend her title in Warwickshire this spring.

Horton won the first round qualifier at Hartpury College near Gloucester, at a jumping day organised by the Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt branch.

She again rode her 13.2hh chestnut mare Sweet Delight, known as Honey and home and Horton’s partner since she was 12.

The duo, regularly successful for the Ridgeway club, saw off Beaufort Hunt Pony Club’s Kirsty Poluton and home club rider Polly Smart, with the top four all going on to the regionals.

Horton was completing a double as she had earlier headed the 2’ 9” individual class on her new horse Killeney Widdow, who produced a very quick clear in the jump-off.

Beaufort Hunt Pony Club won two of the four team titles up for grabs, a repeat of the double they enjoyed at the same show last year.

The club’s Florence Dyer and Rachel Hatherall were in good form in the 2’ individual section, taking third and fourth on Treasure and Thomas.

Evelyn Dyer took over Treasure to clinch second in the 2’ individual rankings, and Beaufort club mate Madeline Adamson was third in the 2’ 6” individual on Little Tip Top.