A 15-year-old girl from Carlisle would earn a superb second-placed finish at the Trailblazers Championships in Addington last week.

Lydia Bell, who attends Caldew School in Dalson, travelled down to Buckinghamshire to participate in the showjumping championships on Monday, August 7.

Lydia has loved horses all of her life and knew how to ride a horse before she knew how to ride a bike.

The teenager would impress with her trusty eight-year-old companion Mr Nobody, who is better known at home by Nemo, had qualified at a local event at Newton Rigg.

It was her first time riding at Addington and she enjoyed a hugely successful day, as she and Mr Nobody were named Cavaletti Senior Reserve Champions. 

Lydia said: "We've had a great season so far, he's a big lad who loves his job and takes everything in his stride."

Mr Nobody, who is an Appaloosa X Dutch Warmblood, stands above 148cm, which means that young Lydia has to compete against more senior riders. 

But she showed no signs of inexperience at the Baloubet and the Manor International Arenas earlier in August, placing second in each of her competitions.

The first competition was single-phase, and saw Lydia clear 12 obstacles, of which the final six were against the clock, and she earned 24 points from a possible 25.

The second competition was two-phase, with 11 obstacles needing to be cleared before a jumpoff with another six obstacles against the clock, and the teenager once again came second, earning 34 points from a possible 35.

Lydia also jumps in British showjumping and like many other competitors in this area, travels all over the country to complete.  

She'll be back at Addington this October jumping in the 100cm/110cm NSEA National Schools Showjumping Championships.