Seven-year-old sensation springs another surprise

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Annabel Widdowson will now have two rides in Hickstead’s 128cm winter final, after piloting the great Whinney Lass to a win with the sole double clear.

- Jennifer Donald

Arena UK small pony premier, Lincs 

Annabel was already thought to be the youngest rider ever to qualify for this championship when she collected a ticket in Scotland riding 22-year-old Bunbury Conquest.

At only her second show riding 20-year-old Whinney, Annabel displayed more of her precocious talent when she was the only one of six riders through to the second phase to leave the fences standing.

“It was a shock even for me,” Annabel’s mother Kathleen said. “To have scraped a qualification would have been one thing, but to win it was incredible.

“She only had one weekend to do it in and she’s only done one other show with her – every jump in the warm-up she was learning how to ride her better.

“Annabel has no fear,” she added. “She never mentions the height of the fences. She has such belief in who she is sat on and in her trainer.”