BOTH rider and horse bounced back from injury to clinch two prestigious titles at the weekend.

In their first real outing since injured in a fall in June, 22-year-old Hedley-on-the-Hill show jumper Laura Frisby and 10-year-old mare Zula Maeve won both the 1m5 and 1m10 amateur regional finals at the renowned Arena UK festival in Grantham, near Nottingham.

The success qualifies the horse for the national finals in Aintree in November at both heights.

It is a great recovery from both after they were out of action for close to three months when hurt in a fall at Bolesworth International, Cheshire, in the summer.

Laura said: ”This was her first show and I only saved her for the two classes. There was a time of worry where we wondered what might happen when we were out injured, so it is very nice to know we are back of form!

“I was on holiday when the local qualifiers were held, so I planned to go down with the hope of qualifying for the nationals.

“I never expected us to win the classes though because it’s renowned as such a big show and there‘s a lot of people competing there, which makes it a lot harder.

”Even when I jumped clear in the first round and seen the jump off course, and the other horses, I was set on just trying to get a top spot to qualify for Aintree.

“It was just an amazing weekend to win both classes and when I found out I had won the 1m10, the biggest I have jumped, I just burst into tears!

”We go to Aintree in November and, if I can keep Zula Maeve in good form, we are confident of doing well.“

The success for local riders continues to pour in with teenagers Georgina Clarkson, of Elrington, near Haydon Bridge, and Susie White, of Hexham, qualifying for the Weston Park Autumn International Horse Trials, in Shropshire.

This weekend, South Northumberland Pony Club members Jack Donaldson and Abi Foster will compete at the Scottish Tetrathlon Championships.