TOP junior riders produced some outstanding performances at a premier show hosted by Stainsby Grange, Thornaby recently.

The three days of excellent competition over Walter Taylor's superb courses, built with the assistance of Brian Chandler, were watched by overall main sponsor Colin Jackson from Dutton Forshaw of Durham. A surprise visitor was Sydney Olympic rider Geoff Billington.

The opening welcome stakes produced a good win by Karl Bowman on John Dunlop's stallion Hockeye, with local riders Emma Denton riding Stainsby Hotspot and Darren Smith on Sir Benjamin Brown taking fourth and fifth respectively in the 52-starter class.

Darren, from Stockton, went on to take the small open riding Flyaway Peter ahead of Darlington's Paul Sims on the 21-year old Blonde Bombshell.

Darren also won a national 138cm qualifier ahead of Olivia Loader on The Lion King, while Paul finished in a good third place in the Winter 138cm second round qualifier and claimed his ticket for the Royal International behind Laura Hutt with Bowes Charlie Brown and Hannah Arnold riding Little Bobby.

The Winter 128cm second round produced a triple clear for Jodie Ward riding the top-ranked 128cm pony Duncrynes Jungle Bunny, with James Reveley, grandson of racehorse trainer Mary Reveley, clinching a sixth place and Royal International ticket with Cappagh Misty.

The Whitehouse Family Winter JC produced an excellent jump-off, with Ellen Whittaker clinching victory on Vanessa Norman's eight-year-old Kinetic ahead of Peterlee's Sara Martin with Zeemax.

Sara, trained by Norma Mills and in her final season, was delighted to qualify for the Royal International for the third time. She also qualified for the Blue Chip Sparkle JC/JA after finishing second behind Michaela Gale on Patience, while other tickets for Solihull went to Boroughbridge's Jamie Newnham riding Little Miss Baileys and Stacey Lincoln on Alternative Jazz.

Ellen Whittaker clinched the first Paul Fabrications JA qualifier riding John Roger's Savvy Mill and was also third with Current Ruella. Second was Lance Whitehouse riding the 1999 gold medal team mount Gold Harvest.

Ellen, with Current Ruella, was runner-up in the second qualifier behind Quayside Caution ridden by Gemma Plumley, daughter of Montreal Olympic rider Debbie Johnsey.

The Freelander 1.20m open was won by Anna Strawson riding Mittenhill Classic ahead of Whitby's Sarah Cana on Milligan Hill, while Daniel Neilson riding Micklow Rapidash had a good third in the national 128cm qualifier.

Major shows cancelled in the area due to foot-and-mouth disease this weekend are East Yorkshire County and the Holmside Park Show Jumping Championships.