Emelia Mitchell

A YOUNG show jumper from Wimbish, near Saffron Walden secured third place in the national ‘tiny tots’ under-10 championship at the British show jumping Scope festival.

Emelia Mitchell had qualified at earlier heats held around the country throughout the year in order to compete at these prestigious finals held earlier this month in Staffordshire.

Nine-year-old Emelia, a pupil at Bishop’s Stortford College, jumped her two ponies Martlets Masters Madam and Time to Party in the preliminary rounds held in the outdoor rings battling tough weather conditions. Emelia secured her place in the final by coming in the top 20 out of 203 starters.

Emelia and her trainer, Charmaine Hanson, were thrilled to secure third place in the jump off by plotting a course which involved some daring turn backs and galloping between jumps.

She was presented with a rug, rosettes and prize money by Peter Charles who won a gold medal with Elsenham-based Ben Maher in the team show jumping at the 2012 Olympics in Greenwich London.

melia said: “I was so happy to qualify for the final and to actually be placed in the top three and meet an Olympic hero has been an amazing experience.”