Farnsworth scores a big win

A newer face mixes it with team riders at Aston-le-Walls' bumper advanced fixture and a home-bred part-New Forest wins at Portman

- PIPPA ROOME and ELLIE HUGHES

SARAH FARNSWORTH, 20, achieved her first win at advanced in the under-25 class, riding her sister Ruth's 14-year-old The Ridge Cardento.

“I took him over about three years ago when Ruth went to university,” said Sarah. “She brought him over from Ireland and is the driving force behind how good he is across country as she rides with such determination and has made him super-confident. I’m a more precise rider, so we’ve made a good partnership.”

The pair were 11th after dressage, but moved up with the fastest cross-country round of the section.

Sarah added: “The dressage has ramped up a gear at this level, with the flying changes and half-passes coming up quickly, but jumping we can capitalise on tight times – we have so much confidence in each other we can keep travelling to the bigger fences.

“He popped round here nicely and with Aston’s amazing washdown facilities too, it was the ideal prep run for Burgham. Then I looked at the scores and I just kept moving up the leaderboard, which was exciting to watch.”