A talented young eventer has won the KBIS U18 Regional Championship at Weston Park Horse Trials in Staffordshire (9-12October).
Train and encourage
Sofia Sjoborg added nothing to her dressage score of 43.7pen to take the individual title, riding her own 14-year-old mare Contessa.
Those competing in the championships are from one of eight regions around the UK. Each region each can enter up to ten riders, but they must havequalified as part of British Eventing’s under-18 youth programme.
This is aimed at providing training and encouragement to young riders on aregional basis.
Sofia, who is from London, was representing the South-East.
Important foundation
The 16-year-old also finished seventh in the CCI1* three-day international, riding her second ride DHI Mighty Dwight.
Guy Prest, managing director of KBIS who have sponsored the series for nine years said: “The U18 Championships are such an important foundation for future riders in the sport. It is an experience they will remember forever, whether they continue up the ranks or if this remains their only international competition, we know it is a hugely important achievement to have come this far.”