A NORTH Yorkshire teenager has finished her summer showjumping season with a string of fine performances.

Holly Stevenson, of West Rounton, and her more experienced pony Mr Shorty claimed two third places and then a first place rosette at the long-established Stockton Show at Preston Park.

The 13-year-old followed up by taking Mr Shorty and the younger Stainsby Irish Mist to the Scope national festival in Stafford.

From a class of 195 starters, she missed the championship line-up by only two places on Irish Mist, winning a rosette in the consolation final, but went one better on Shorty.

From 150 starters in the progressive class, she claimed a place in the final and, jumping first of the finalists in the impressive championship arena, secured ninth slot with four faults in a fast jump-off time.

Keeping her eye in locally, the two ponies took the only two prizes in the 1.10m open class at Penshaw, before travelling to the national championships at the BSJA Festival in Grantham last weekend.

In the qualifying section, Shorty grabbed second slot and the grey Irish Mist was ninth from 84 starters for both to appear in the championship ring.

This time it was the turn of Irish Mist to take the honours. With two double clear rounds and four faults in the jump-off, Holly led for a while and finally secured seventh place in the national class.

Holly, a pupil at Egglescliffe School, is trained at Stainsby Grange by Peter Allen and at home by Sandy Sanderson.