Bicester Riding Club members were delighted after winning of the British Riding Club’s Area 6 Liaison Trophy Competition at Berkshire College of Agriculture in Hurley near Maidenhead.

It marked a first success for the club, which was formed four years ago.

The event consisted of four phases including dressage, showjumping, cross country and a trail ride, with every team member required to take two disciplines.

The contest is intended as a confidence building event in which Clubs in Area 6 may enter teams in each of the four phases.

The team comprised Jenny Fenton, Louise Bull, Jackie Card, Alex Barter, Lauren Harrold, Jane Bird, Anna-Marie O’Hanlon, Michele Gregory, and Sarah Pettit, who stepped in at the last minute to replace a rider whose horse was badly affected by the Sahara Desert sand particles.

“This was a genuine novice team, an amazing result and our first big win for Bicester Riding Club,” said team manager and chairman, Emma Richardson-Steele.