AN Emmanuel Holcombe School pupil is now the rein-ing champion in her age group at Bolton & District Riding Club.

Beatrice Caldwell, aged nine, was named the Under 10s overall champion after a stellar year, which has seen her win four classes.

This year marked Beatrice’s first show on her Welsh Mountain Pony, Dakota, so she started on the lead rein as a novice.

By the end of the year Beatrice was entering jumping classes, which her mum Charlotte Hanley describes as a “great achievement”.

Mrs Hanley said: “She’s had a great year with Dakota and won four classes in points overall and then took overall champion under ten years. She’s thrilled!

“When she finished the year at the show she wasn’t on the lead rein anymore, she was entering the jumping classes, which is a great achievement.”

Beatrice is taught by her cousin Emma Scott, also of Ramsbottom, and it seems as if the riding talent runs in the family.

Mrs Hanley added: “I’m so proud of Beatrice, she has worked really hard all year to progress to where she is confident to take Dakota around a full course of jumps.

“It’s a great way to teach children about responsibility as Beatrice has to do all the mucking out twice a day and the grooming, which is very hard on a grey/white pony.

“She has really taken to jumping and we have lots of shows over winter to go to in order to get the practice for next year.”