TOCKENHAM showjumper Jessica Mendoza ended 2009 in the best possible fashion with a win at the famous London Olympia International Horse Show.

The 13 year old was one of 14 top British pony showjumpers invited to take part in the JJ Jumping Junior Stakes, for riders 16 or under, on the show’s last day.

Mendoza was one of four who went clear in the first round on her superb chestnut mare Tixylix, with whom she was selected for the GB team at the 2009 Pony European Championships.

“For once Jessica had a good draw and was last to go,” explained her mum Sarah.

“They had been getting faster and faster in the jump-off and North Wales rider Laura Pritchard had set a good target.”

The course builder had given riders the option of a tight turn to the third fence on the shortened course but Mendoza rightly opted for the longer route and to keep flowing on.

“She felt it would be quicker to go the long way and not lose time slowing up for the turn,” her mum added.

“She went quickly and took two strides out coming to the last – it was an awesome round and Jessica deserved to win.

“The course looked far bigger than last year and the best ponies in the country were there, so it was a lovely way to end the year.”

The only downside was the snowy drive back home to Wiltshire that took a total of five and a half hours.

SOUTH Wiltshire Riding Club’s Dawn Slater Bosley was among the winners at the Oliver Townend Eventers Challenge Championships, staged for the first time at the superb new equestrian centre on Aintree Racecourse.

The competition, designed as a winter warm-up for event riders, combines cross country and show jumping, with riders aiming to come as close as possible to a pre-set optimum time.

Slater-Bosley’s victory came in the 2’ 6” 16 and Over final, on her Thoroughbred ex-racehorse Silent Whisper.

Teddy, as the 15.1hh grey gelding is known at home, has been with her for just over a year and both were making their debut in the Championships.

“At Aintree I thought the course was very good, though possibly not as tricky as the qualifier,” she said .

“There were still a lot of testing fences with ‘skinnies’ where you had to be accurate.

“The biggest challenge came off a corner when you had three strides to a keyhole brush fence, where you had to be straight and controlled. Teddy helps me out and is very honest.”

The pair jumped a great clear to beat Lancashire rider Daisy Shufflebottom and score their biggest win to date.

Slater-Bosley has worked with horses for much of her life, after coming through the Pony Club and qualifying as an instructor.

“I spent 10 months working in yards in Australia before coming back to work at a riding school in Epsom,” she added.

“I fell into polo while I was there and then travelled to New Zealand, where I lived for 10 years, playing with a one-goal handicap.”

She returned home, married and now, mum to a four year old child and two stepchildren, plans to take Teddy into BSJA and BE affiliated competition next year. She is a regular team rider for the South Wiltshire club, which covers an area from Westbury and Little Deverill to Salisbury and the edge of Dorset.

TRAILBLAZERS, the equestrian organisation that stages a popular unaffiliated championships each year, is to introduce combined training to its schedule.

Backed by Spillers, long-time supporter of this mix of dressage and showjumping, combined training joins showjumping, dressage and showing at the fourth Trailblazers national series sponsored by South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB).

Trailblazers combined training first rounds will start at many of its 60-plus approved show centres, which includes West Wilts Equestrian Centre at Holt, from May 2010.

Second rounds, acting as qualifiers for the championship finals at Warwickshire, will take place in the spring of 2011.

Combined training is judged on accumulated scores from a dressage test plus a show jumping round. Trailblazers is offering classes for juniors and seniors, who may ride horses or ponies.

A selection of classes may be offered at each centre including Prelim, Novice and Elementary dressage, combined with show jumping at 70cms, 80cms and 90cms.

The choice of fence heights and dressage tests is intended to enable those with less experience to stay within their comfort zone, moving up the levels when they feel ready.

Trailblazers showing classes also now include a working hunter class – to find out more and for a list of participating show centres, visit www.trailblazerschampionships.com EIGHTEEN year old Emily Seal won the top class on offer at West Wilts Equestrian Centre’s recent senior BSJA show jumping date.

Seal, also a successful showing competitor, topped the Newcomers and 1.10m Open class on her nine year old chestnut Kannan’s Gold after beating Newbury’s Lisa Benson.

Avon Vale Pony Club’s David Doel, from Lacock, was third.

Brimpsfield’s Joanna Sayers won the opening British Novice class on her little black mare Just an Enigma and Gillian Goldsmith led the 1.05m Open on the towering 17.3hh bay Goldsmiths Warrior.

Results

KBIS Insurance British Novice : 1 Just an Enigma, J Sayer; 2 Emerald Isle IV, S Frampton; 3 J S J's Gallant Girl, A Levine.

Equissage Discovery: 1 Weinerante, L Smith; 2 Emerald Isle IV; 3 Felicia, S Stockley.

1.05m Open: 1 Goldsmiths Warrior, G Goldsmith; 2 Carnoll's Cavalier, C McKenzie.

Tri-Zone Newcomers/1.10m Open: 1 Kannan's Gold, E Seal; 2 Zandingo II, L Benson; 3 Vivre La Vie B, D Doel.