MALTON District Riding Club was celebrating after its junior team took the top honours at the Area Winter Dressage Qualifiers, which were hosted by British Riding Clubs Area 4 at Richmond Equestrian Centre on Sunday.

The team, comprising Amy Small riding Caroworth Pencam, Sophie Lear and Longslade Dancing Firebird, Alice Laughton with Little Man and Katherine Holmes on Henleydown Mystical Air, claimed the only junior qualifying place for the Novice Indoor Dressage Winter Championships, which will take place in April, 2010.

Alice Laughton and Sophie Lear each took individual second place in their respective arenas, while Katherine Holmes achieved individual third and Amy Small took fourth place.

The seniors finished a very creditable fourth of the 26 teams competing in their section. Wendy Hoggard was the outright winner in her arena after performing a great test on her grey gelding, Whitton Monty. Nicky Lyons took individual second place riding Tiger Bay Basil. Katie Brickman with Moonlight Matilda, and Katrina Wood, riding Boot Up, completed the line-up for the senior team.