MALVERN school pupil Lucinda Eaton was among the winners at the National Pony Club Horse Trials Championships, which took place recently as Sansaw Park in Shropshire.

Hundreds of young riders from throughout the British Isles had qualified for the finals, with several under 21 Internationals among those taking part.

At just 13 Lucinda was one of the younger contenders but had a top class pony as her partner, the 14.1 hh grey Millbrook Ifor.

The pony has been on the British team at the Pony European three day event Championship with older sister Harriet, and Lucinda took over the ride this year. She had proved just as talented as her older sibling and led her individual section from the start at Sansaw in impressive fashion, completing on her dressage score to win by nearly ten marks.

"We were thrilled with how well Lucinda went - she jumped a great double clear," said mum Mrs Karen Eaton.

"I thought the cross-country course was very stiff and needed a lot of accuracy, with several technical questions asked.

"The corner combination caused quite a lot of problems but overall it was a very well presented track. Lucinda hadn't gone there with any high expectations but is very dedicated to her sport and has worked hard this year."

Lucinda will now contest an FEI Pony Trial at Stonar School in Wiltshire this Sun-day to end her season, and may well be a contender for international pony honours herself next year.

The teenager rides for the North Cotswold Pony Club, and is a pupil at St James School, Malvern.

Other riders to qualify for the Championships included Albrighton Pony Club's Rach-el Gough, who finished 25th in her section after some problems cross country.

Fairfield's Lorna Wright, 24, finished third in the top section at the Cleobury Mort-imer affiliated one day event, held at the popular Hillocks Farm venue.

Lorna pulled up several places after dressage with one of the quickest cross country rounds in the Open Intermediate section, riding the mare Sundance Polly.

Broadway-based international Erica Watson finished fifth on Tango Romeo, who dropped from second spot after one show-jump fell.

Low Hill's Natasha Wheeler finished third in the Open Pre-novice section, just one point behind the winner, on her young horse The Gambit.

Natasha also rode Ashwood Lad into ninth place in a Nov-ice section, adding 17 cross country time penalties to her dressage score.

Honeybourne competition yard owner Julie Wheeler picked up a fourth at novice level on Never Despair, an-other who slid from second af-ter a show-jump down.

Evesham's Harriet Eaton also finished fourth in a novice section, riding Super Fly.