A TEAM from the Darlington Riding Club enjoyed a successful weekend and gained plenty of valuable experience at the national riding clubs championships at Lincoln.

The team finished in a creditable eighth place in a large field of experienced horse and rider combinations, while Helen Foulds was a magnificent fourth in the individual event on Maurice Shields' Kings Halt II.

With the team one horse down due to lameness in the run up to the championships, club secretary Sara Metcalfe began a desperate search for a reserve for the open team show jumping championships.

Liz Simpson and her choice of two talented horses were unavailable due to commitments at Allerton Park horse trials, but Mr and Mrs Snowdon from Caldwell stepped in at the last minute and allowed their horse Merlin to travel down to Lincoln for Angela Morris to ride.

They joined regular team members Sara Metcalfe on Vader, Helen Foulds on Kings Halt II and Angela Peacock on Romulus II.

The team went through to the second round on clears, but the travelling and long day took their toll on the big second round track, which caught out a number of riders.

Helen Foulds was one of only ten riders from a field of more than 100 to manage a double clear, putting her through to an exciting jump-off to decide the individual places.

The team was sponsored by Farmway, Simpsons of Cockfield, Foxberry Chasers and Maurice Shields, whose wagon was used to transport the horses and for overnight accommodation for the riders.

Sara Metcalfe said: "The whole weekend was a fantastic experience and thoroughly enjoyable. The support from other teams was great, particularly our neighbouring club Yarm, who were competing in other disciplines."