Theale Green student Laura  has recently finished second in the Working Hunter Pony event held at the Royal International Horse Show at Wembley!

Being the youngest competitor in the competition, she was drawn first to jump and managed to jump one of only two clear rounds in the whole competition.

Laura finished second and had to ride in front of a packed house at the main international arena.

To qualify for Wembley is, in itself, quite an achievement, contestants having to win one of the 24 qualifying classes held throughout the country. Just to be there, regardless of the placing, is  an achievement!

Laura has also ridden for England in the English Home Pony International Competition where the team won a silver medal. Laura said, "It was a fantastic atmosphere with all the flags waving and England supporters all cheering and drumming their feet on the floor".

"I ride every day after school for a couple of hours. My main ambitions this year were to ride at Wembley and to jump for England, and I have managed both of these. My ambitions for the future are to continue competing at this level, hopefully riding for England again in 2001 and to find a sponsor to help finance some of the costs of competing".