SEIB Winter Novice Championships

Laura Mantel beat twenty-three other strong competitors yesterday to take the top spot in another successful SEIB Winter Novice Championship at the prestigious Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead in West Sussex.

Qualifying for the SEIB Winter Novice Championship began last October and continued all the way through to March. Eleven qualifiers were held at venues all over the country and horses and riders travelled the length and breadth of the country to secure a place in the prestigious Championship. There was also a last qualifier held at Hickstead on Tuesday.

Laura, who is from Reading, Berkshire claimed her Championship title on board Funnycan, a 6 year-old bay mare owned by New Priory Stud. Laura and Funnycan achieved their qualification after winning the qualifier at Solihull Riding Centre last October. Riding with great accuracy and speed, Laura delivered an unbeatable double clear yesterday in a nine horse jump off and finished 2.15 seconds ahead of her nearest rival. Laura and Funnycan clocked their double clear up in 39.30 seconds.