HARRY Sykes, of Croome Hunt Pony Club, created an intermediate record at the Pony Club Tetrathlon Championships and pushed hot favourites the Irish into second, third, fourth and sixth individual places.

Harry, aged 15, was the only boy on a team of four, including Georgie Ormandy, Katie Caldicott and Sally Caldicott, from the small Worcestershire Pony Club branch competing at Bishop Burton College near Beverley, East Yorkshire.

He began pulling away from the field on the first day’s swim, completing 10 lengths and 17 metres in three minutes to gain a 20-point lead and the best swim trophy.

Next, each competitor had 10 single shots at a moving target 10 metres away that faced them for just four seconds each shot.

Harry gained 700 points with seven bulls and 240 points for three eight-ring scores, increasing his lead to 120 points and earning him the best shoot trophy.

Saturday saw the most thrilling tetrathlon phase: the cross-country riding, including opening a gate and going through a slip rail.

Competitors start with 1,400 points, with penalties for each failed jump. After the riding, Harry had edged further into the lead – 136 points were now needed to catch him.

The final phase, running, has traditionally been dominated by the Irish competitors. Harry completed his run just three seconds slower than the best tetrathlon runner from the emerald isle, earning him 1,152 points to give him an intermediate tetrathlon championships record score of 4,600. As he received the Five Nations Silver Salver for being best individual, the announcer commented: “It looks like Sykes has stopped the invasion”.

And while Ireland won the team competition, Harry also took home the Tetrathlon Championship Intermediate trophy, engraved glasses for best swim and best shoot – and an armful of rosettes.

He said: “It was a great honour to represent my Pony Club branch and put our small corner of Worcestershire on the Five Nations map.”

During the last year, rising star Harry has been invited to join the Pentathlon GB World Class Pathway Programme and been selected for two international events – competing at Hartpury UK and Sant Boi Spain – thereby gaining his first full international representing GB.