A TALENTED young horsewoman has enjoyed the most successful weeks of her riding career by taking two national titles.

After many long years of trying, 18-year-old Joanne Little, from Howden le Wear, near Crook, finally achieved her dream of winning a coveted pony club championship.

She proved herself the best of the hundreds of youngsters who entered this year's dressage contest, beating her nearest rivals by a huge 44-point margin at the national championships at Sansaw Park, near Shrewsbury, in Shropshire.

She was a member of an all-girl Braes of Derwent Pony Club squad which finished fifth in the team competition. The others were Laura Britton, from Spennymoor, Sandy Minto, from Billy Row, near Crook, and Naomi New, from Sunderland.

A few days later, Joanne took her giant 17hh Hanoverian Grant Bourne Landslide to the Sheepgate National Under 21 Championships at Boston, Lincolnshire, and was a winner once more.

Now she is working towards her ambition of riding for the national dressage team and ultimately an Olympic place.

Her mother June said: "She is very determined. A lot of the work is unseen and requires a lot of stamina and strength for the horse and rider."

Two years ago, Joanne was chosen for an England eventing team in Germany with her pony Decka.

She trains with dressage specialist Ian Woodhead, from Grimsby.