Double delight for showjumper Poole
Shrewsbury showjumping ace Olivia Poole has claimed an impressive double at the Animo UK National Children on Horses Championship.
Poole, 16, finished first and second at the major junior competition, riding two different horses.
She claimed first prize riding her mother Michelle Poole's eight-year-old bright bay mare Chinook BH before securing second place on 11-year-old chestnut mare Zoverla, who is also owned by her mother.
Poole laid down an early challenge in the competition when she raced through the course in a time of 43.17 seconds. Despite several brave attempts, her fellow competitors were unable to catch her ensuring she claimed the title for the first time in her career.
She said: "I have been waiting (to win) this class. I was fourth last year, and I've come second by seven-hundredths of a second and I am so glad that I've finally done it."
Impressively Poole was not content with one stellar round but challenged her own leading score with her second ride, this time on Zoverla.
Her second ride was almost as good as the first and she finished the course in a time of 44.51 seconds securing her second place.
Third place was awarded to Joshua Bridge from Pontyclun, two seconds behind Poole's second time.
Poole was thrilled with her first and second result and she said: "It's absolutely amazing. Both horses jumped amazingly.
"Chinook BH jumped her heart out in that jump-off. She did a really nice round."
