Riders blaze a trail at national competition

Sisters Lindsey and Jacquelin Mundell, aged 12 and 15 respectively, and Liz Kelly-Hunter all fought off stiff competition from other riders in their classes to take the championship titles at the prestigious event. In her first year competing, Jacquelin, 15, took the top spot in the In Hand Traditional Coloured Pony Championship with her six-year-old pony, Tyson Town. She said: "I was delighted when we won, he is just starting out in his showing so it gives me great encouragement for the future." It was the second Trailblazers event for Lindsey, 12, and her nine-year-old Dartmoor pony, Stourton Red Robin. The pair won the Trailblazers Young Handlers 12 Years and under Championship title. Both sisters hope to qualify for the 2016 championships. [caption id="attachment_6133" align="alignnone" width="680"]

JACQUELIN MUNDELL[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6134" align="alignnone" width="680"]

LINSEY MUNDELL[/caption] Meanwhile, Liz Kelly-Hunter, who works for the Scottish Environmental Agency, has become the 2015 Working Hunter Diamond Champion riding her own ten-year-old gelding, Shannondale Saor (Alfie). However, she nearly never got there when her horse box broke down six miles from the showground. Liz said: "It was quite traumatic for us and for Alfie, but he behaved so well." Despite a rough start to the weekend, Liz rode to victory. She said: "It was just amazing, I was so shocked. I never anticipated that we’d win. "It was the moment of our summer, the absolute pinnacle." Photos by Real Time Imaging.