THE pursuit of national silverware got off to the best possible start for the area‘s equestrian stars of the future.

South Northumberland Pony Club’s intermediate boys team came away with the title as they represented the region at the National Tetrathlon Championships in Cheshire.

The team of Elrington rider Jack Clarkson (15) and Muggleswick brothers Matthew (19) and William Quinn (15) is now hoping their success can rub off on fellow members who will compete in the National Pony Club championships this weekend.

The triumph comes at an extremely successful time for South Northumberland who qualified nationally in all disciplines, with the exception of polo cross.

Having qualified as area champions at Little Whittington, gaining a place at the nationals is an achievement itself but to finish first from a field of 19 areas is taking things to the next level.

Starting with a three minute freestyle swim, the team then moved onto pistol shooting from 10m at a turning target and running 2,000m before bringing things to an end with cross country rides over 1m fences and over challenging and technical course of 2,800m.

While the best three results from four team representatives count, South Northumberland only had three members meaning they were all included in the final outcome.

Jack‘s mother Barbie said: “Because we couldn’t put a team of four, all three final scores counted and there was no margin for error.

”But they all rode the cross country well and they have had three clear rounds, and all pulled together to be crowned national champions.

“It is a nice start to the club‘s national championships and a good confidence boost, and hopefully it is the first of many.

”The club have had a really good year and just to qualify for the nationals is a great achievement, so the lads have done fantastic to win it.“