NORTH Yorkshire riders Scott Smith and Jessica Smith were both in great form at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead.

Barmby Moor-based Scott was competing in the international classes against riders from over eight nations. He won the opening class, the £3,000 Refco International Stakes, on his long time British team horse Cabri D'Elle.

"There was probably more riders in the opening class than any other, as so many riders were using it as a warm up for the Nations Cup," said Smith. "It was a two phase competition, where you went straight on to jump against the clock and I knew Cabri D'Elle had a very good chance of winning if we stayed clear."

The 15-year-old bay stallion, now nearing the end of a superb career, was over four seconds faster than the runner-up, ridden by Olympic rider John Whitaker.

Scott was also second and fifth in the international speed classes on Sonic Empire.

Knaresborough's Jessica Smith was third in one of the top pony finals on offer, the Winter 138cms Championship, for which the best young show jumpers aged under 15 had qualified for over the winter.

The 14-year-old King James School pupil was one of just three riders to go clear over a daunting first round course on her grey pony More Than Milton.

Milton did well to go clear in the heavy rain in the first round but in his next effort slipped into the last fence on the wet ground and went down. Jessica could not get off but was freed after getting assistance. Both horse and rider escaped injury.

The pony, who is just eight, has also qualified for the National 138cms Championship at this autumn's Horse of the Year Show and recently won two classes at the Welsh Home Pony International near Chepstow.

Veteran international eventer and Olympic dressage rider Chris Bartle, from Markington, near Harrogate, finished second in the £13,000 Ford Ranger Eventing Grand Prix, which pitches show jumpers and event riders together over a course that combines both disciplines. He rode Word Perfect II, who jumped only the third clear round in the event's history.

Updated: 12:00 Saturday, August 06, 2005