A YOUNG rider is bidding to follow in the footsteps of horsewoman Zara Philips after clinching victory for England at a showjumping championship.

Alice McCulloch, 15, and her pony Folly II, nine, were part of the triumphant England team at the International Working Hunter Pony Championships.

They won the hotly-contested two-round show jumping event and came second in the dressage and working hunter pony sections.

As well as the team prize, Alice won in the 143cm section and was named overall winner of the event.

Forty competitors from across the UK took part in the event, held every four years, which took place at the Scottish Equestrian Centre in Broxburn, West Lothian on Sunday, August 5.

Folly II is owned by Northallerton vet David Witterick, who brought her over from Ireland.

Alice, from Deighton, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, recently finished second with her at the Royal International Horse Show, at Hickstead.

"I am very proud that I was able to play my part in winning this event for England," she said.

"Folly II was well prepared and performed well. To win our height category and take gold overall really was the icing on the cake."

Alice's mother, Clare, said: "Mr Witterick bought the little pony for his grandchildren who live in Japan so they could ride her in their summer holidays. Then he gave her to us and we made her a superstar.

"Alice has made the pony herself. Plenty of people can go and buy whatever they want, but this pony is at the top through hard work, team work and the fact that the pair of them get on so well together.

"She would like a career in horses, but she has got her GCSEs next year and school has to come first.

"We are privileged to have had the pony to start with and to have been given the opportunity to ride her and we are thrilled with the way it has ended up. I wish she was my pony."

Alice is riding at the British Show Pony Society Championships, which are on until Saturday, before taking Folly II and her own pony, Gwachod Sparkling Comet, to the Horse of the Year Show in October.