A TEAM from the Northallerton Riding Club made the line-up at the British Riding Clubs national championships, staged in Lincolnshire.

The championships were contested by hundreds of qualified riders from all over the British Isles who were chasing team and individual titles in dressage and jumping finals for both senior and junior riders.

The Northallerton team finished eighth in the senior novice show jumping championships, held over two rounds and won by the Dolfor Riding Club from West Wales.

They were assisted by an outstanding performance from Sally Lowe, who jumped three great clear rounds to also take fifth spot in the individual line-up.

Sally, who lives at Asenby and works for the NFU Insurance company, rode Loumic Fantalinie. She was making her debut for Northallerton at the championships on the attractive young horse, who has been competing in the Burghley Young Event Horse national series this year.

She was joined by 19-year-old Stephanie Harrison, an equine student at Bishop Burton College. She rode her young horse Sir Astromar, who she has been eventing at pre-novice level this season.

Completing the team were Deighton-based young rider Phillippa Wittrick and Hutton Conyers' Amanda Dawson. Phillippa, who is also 19 and about to start university studies, rode Hamish and Amanda partnered the young horse This and That.

"Amanda actually came into the team as a replacement for Deirdre Johnston, the wife of trainer Mark Johnston," said team chef d'equipe Julie Williamson.

"Deirdre's horse went lame just before the area qualifier, which meant the team was down to three riders and did really well to qualify. Amanda then came in at the championships on This and That, who is very young and has done very little competition as yet.

"She rode at the area qualifiers as an individual though and jumped a double clear, so seemed a good choice for the finals."