Nicola Wright, from Newbliss, Co Monaghan, was yesterday awarded the first of the RDS national show jumping championship titles for 2001 when her pony, Trendy Royale, galloped to victory in the Equestrian World-sponsored 138cms final.
Wright, who gained her spot for the final in Thursday's qualifier, had been denied a place in last year's decider, but the 13-year-old came back all the more determined for this year's championship with her mother Jacqueline's 11-yearold pony.
The 138cms championship, which has never failed to provide some thrilling jumping before the Nations Cup takes centre stage in the afternoon, turned into one hotly contested finale when nine of the 14 finalists got their chance to jump against the clock in the international arena.
Wright had the edge when she was the sole rider to have a double chance when both her ponies, Trendy Royale and Colour Code, obliged when returning clear, and it was Wright who set her own target when first to go in the jump-off with Colour Code.
Their time of 34.80 seconds had been fast, but when Kildare rider Nicola Fitzgibbon jumped into the lead with Kiltulla's King in 32.73, it was up to Wright and her second pony Trendy Royale to alter the placings once again.
And alter them they did. With the breaks off and the tempo up into fifth gear, Trendy Royale happily scorched over the last with a further second to spare to claim the prestigious title for his jockey.