A NORTH-EAST riding club is celebrating being first past the post in a national competition.

The Bishops Riding Club rural riders team, which draws enthusiasts from across County Durham and Tyneside, were triumphant in the Riding Club Championships in Lincoln.

In the competition, six horses and riders performed a dressage test together and other tasks.

The Bishops were dealt a blow when lead horse Vice Versa, ridden by Laurie Robinson, of Wolsingham, went lame just before the competition.

But Linda Davis and her horse, Sebastian, of High Garth, stepped in at short notice and impressed the judges enough for them to award the trophy to the Bishops.

Margaret Hedley, of Low Fold Riding Centre, said the team did not expect to enjoy such success.

"The team is absolutely delighted with their unexpected win," she said. "It gives the ordinary horse and rider an opportunity to compete successfully at this level."

The rest of the team was made up of Joanne Jones with Master Marner, Duina Beeby on Zanussi Pipsqueek, Jean Walsh with Poppy Boogaloo, Ailsa Martin and her mount Yogi Bear and Lynne Bradwell with It's a Puzzle.

Ms Hedley said: "The team gets together to practise about once a fortnight before the qualifying competition. We do it for fun and winning is a bonus."