A TEENAGER is celebrating after receiving a string of national and regional awards for horse riding.

Amy Boston, 14, of Church Lane, Middleton St George, has been recognised as one of the top novice endurance riders in the country following repeated success in national competitions this year.

Amy, a year nine pupil at Conyers School in Yarm, has been riding since she was five and regularly competes throughout the country in endurance races.

Racing on her pony, Miss Molly Malone, Amy often competes against more than 150 adult riders over timed distances of up to 25 miles.

At an awards ceremony held by long distance riding society Endurance GB in Coventry last month, Amy picked up three national awards. She was second in the junior rider category, and sixth and seventh in the Merrie and Mira trophies, which are both open to adult riders.

Earlier this month, Amy scooped a further five trophies at the society's Durham and Teesside branch awards, including champion junior rider and champion novice horse.

Amy showed her talent runs in the family by also winning the champion pairs trophy with her mother, Helen.

Following this year's achievements, Amy will compete in the intermediate class next season, riding distances of between 40 and 50 miles. She hopes to ride for the junior British team one day, and is currently looking for sponsorship to help with the costs of travelling to regional and national competitions.

Mrs Boston said: "I'm so pleased that she's achieved what she has, especially as very few young people enter the competitions. It's taken a lot of commitment and for someone so young she's shown a great deal of dedication, which I'm glad has paid off. I'm really very proud of her."