KIRSTY Semple from Stokesley, riding Sweetness and Light, took the closely-fought Yuill Homes Elementary Championship at the Yorkshire Riding Centre, Markington on Sunday, September 10.

Kirsty, who took over the ride from owner Jane Barker only nine months ago, gained more than 74% on the eight-year-old Danish warmblood mare.

She said: "I'm really enjoying her - she really listens to me and today didn't put a foot wrong".

Kirsty also achieved 72% and third place on Appin Star, the eight-year-old Irish bred gelding owned by Lady Joicey on which she qualified for the national championships at Stoneleigh.

There was more success later in the day when Kirsty claimed both first and second places in the BEIB Insurance medium qualifier for next year's regional championships 2001 - again on Sweetness and Light and Appin Star.

A very close runner-up in the elementary championship class, also with a score of over 74%, was Cathy Burrell from Harrogate on her six-year-old gelding Spinners Dream.

The Danish horse, jointly owned by Cathy's mother Ann, is a son of Ursula Teglgarden.

The championship judge, Mrs Dorothy Johnson from Lancashire, praised the event as one of the best-organised competitions she had ever helped to judge.

"The winner was consistently good and accurate", she said "and the overall standard was very high, with an extremely impressive performance by the runner-up"