YOUNG York rider Lauren Walker had every reason to be delighted with her performance at the Horse of the Year Show, Wembley, where she claimed one of the highly-prized national showing titles.

The St Peter's School pupil finished first in the 133cms Working Hunter Pony of the Year final, on the little grey gelding Shandryn April's lad.

The standards in the showing championships at Wembley are the highest to be found anywhere in the world, and a win is the dream of every rider.

"On the night before his class at Wembley, Shandy was a little on his toes, particularly when he saw the scurry driving ponies," said Lauren's mother, Deidre Walker, from Yearsley near Easingwold.

"He was fantastic on the day itself though - his normal self.

"He jumped a massive course with huge spreads, where only two ponies could go clear, and made it look easy.

"He's a dream pony - he rarely touches a fence and has won over £600 in a sport where the prize money is very low and often just a few pounds.

"This was the first time we'd tried to qualify for Wembley. Lauren only has next season on him before she's too old - I'm dreading selling him."

Shandy came to the Walkers from Chloe Rainhard, who is in the same York and Ainsty Pony Club as Lauren.

The pair have proved hugely successful since, taking the Summer and Winter British Show Pony Society points awards for the past two years and winning at all the major pony showing events.

Lower Dunsforth's Jackson Reed-Stephenson, 20, went well in the national show-jumping finals at Wembley, making the line-up on four occasions.

He finished second in the Foxhunter Welcome Stakes on Baileys Laurens, going on to take eighth place in the Foxhunter Championships, and was sixth in the Young Riders Championship of Great Britain on Baileys Pion, having finished third in this category's Welcome Stakes.