FOUR-YEAR-OLD Jessica Merritt is already following in her mum's footsteps by winning her first horse riding competition.

Jessica, who lives in Orchard Way, Westbury, rode her pony Minky to victory at the Bromham Horse Show on Sunday.

But her success is not too surprising as her mum Annamarie represented England and Great Britain in her own pony club days 20 years ago.

Jessica began riding when she was just 18 months old and she is in her first season of competitions.

On Sunday she won first prize in the lead rein show class at Bromham to qualify for the show's group championship.

Competing against 'in hand' and ridden horses and ponies, she was crowned group champion to the delight of her watching family.

Granddad Ian Smith, of Bratton Road, Westbury, said: "Grandma had a tear in her eye as did Annamarie and if they had kept on crying I was about to as well."

Grandma Anne Smith said: "Jessica will start school in Bratton in September and we are sure that 2005 will bring another successful year for her and Minty."

Mum Annamarie appeared in the Wiltshire Times in 1984 after being selected for the England team.

Her achievements included wins at the Home International Champion-ships in Windsor and the World Championships in Vancouver, Canada.