TEENAGE Hook showjumper Tabitha Dean secured her place at the Horse of the Year Show after finishing top in the second round of the Squibb Group Pony Foxhunter class, which was held as part of the Pony Premier Show at Grantham.
Dean, riding her mother Sam’s eight-year-old grey mare Atlantic Hope II, came out on top in the final jump-off as she recorded a clear round and completed the course in a winning time of 37.75 seconds.
Victory for the 15-year-old was by nearly three seconds from fellow 15-year-old Laura Charley from Coventry. Millie Dickinson from Harpenden was in third place and all three will head to Birmingham for the Horse of the Year Show in October.
The qualifying event in Grantham attracted a total of 38 riders, who took part in the opening two rounds.
Nine riders who had recorded double clear rounds took part in the jump-off.
Dean was drawn seventh and went round the course in the fastest time to book her place in the final, with five riders producing a third clear round.
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