CHIPPENHAM-OWNED horse Bluegrass Hopper earned a national award at the Retraining of Racehorses awards ceremony in Newmarket this week.

The 16-year-old bay mare was crowned 2015 British Showjumping Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) National Recognition Award champion at the ceremony hosted by RoR patron Clare Balding.

The awards recognise the achievements of former racehorses adapting and excelling in their new careers.

Hopper, as the horse is known, is ridden by 18 year-old Lottie Gibbens, from Chippenham, with the pair recently moving to Hartpury College in order for Gibbens tostudy for a BSc (Hons) in Equestrian Sports Science.

During her racing career, the mare ran three times as a two year-old on the flat with trainer Michael Madgwick.

Bought by the Gibbens family as a 12 year-old, Hopper began her retraining in 2011.

She began her showjumping career in August 2012 and despite a bad field accident which resulted in a fractured face, the duo went on to finish seventh in 2014’s National Recognition Awards.

Gibbens said:  “Hopper has been truly incredible this year and we have accomplished a huge amount.

"This year’s highlights include qualifying for and competing at the Blue Chip Winter Championships, being selected to jump as part of the Wiltshire team in a National Team Jumping qualifier and qualifying for the Southern Bronze League Semi-Final.

"I am delighted with everything that we have achieved together, but I am especially proud of Hopper and the horse that she has become. She really does have the biggest heart and I am thrilled that she has been given the recognition that she deserves.”

Meanwhile, Great Cheverell's Harriet Aspell-Willington has been selected for British Showjumping's Young Professional programme.

In conjunction with Sport England, British Showjumping is now pleased to reveal that Harriet Aspell-Willington from Devizes, Wiltshire has been selected for the 'Young Professional Programme'.

Aspell-Willington, who became the youngest level one judge on record with the BSJA (British Show Jumping Association) in August last year, joins seven others who will be taking part in a year-long professional development programme funded by Sport England.

The programme has been designed to help British Showjumping members further themselves within their chosen equestrian careers, in the Wiltshire woman's case as a judge.