Manx equestrian star Yasmin Ingham started her campaign for British team selection in fine style recently, winning the Junior/Young Rider Team Trial at the Weston Park Horse Trials in Shropshire.
Riding Eddie and Sue Davies’s and Janette Chinn’s Imperial Cavalier, the 17-year-old was involved in a very close battle with
The competition was very close between 17-year-old European eventing goal medallist Yasmin and Emily King, the daughter of multi Olympic medallist Mary King.
Emily posted a slightly better dressage score, but Yasmin went ahead after the showjumping phase, putting in a clear round with her opponent having one fence down for four penalties.
They both then went clear over a tricky cross-country course and Ingham secured the victory by 1.5 penalties.
Yasmin’s other ride, Pewit Terceiro, was placed fifth in a different intermediate section on the same weekend.
This was the first of the selection trials for the team who will represent Great Britain in the Junior European Championships to be held at Bialy Bor in Poland this August.
There are two trials before the National Junior Championships in June, after which a long list is announced.
The long-listed riders will then be asked to compete in a further three trials before the final six riders are selected to compete in Poland.
Imperial Cavalier heads to Withington Manor in Gloucestershire at the end of this month for a further selection trial, while Pewit Terceiro will be competing in a two-star competiton at Belton Park in Lincolnshire.
As ever, Yasmin is grateful to the owners of the horses, Mr and Mrs Davies and Janette Chinn, together with her sponsors Isle of Man Sport, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Comfort Saddles, Neue Schule Bits, Animo UK, PK Clothing and the support from the World Class Programme.