SOMERSHAM’S Sophie Holliday took a fine second place at the prestigious Blenheim International Horse Trials on Friday.

Eventing

SOMERSHAM’S Sophie Holliday took a fine second place at the prestigious Blenheim International Horse Trials on Friday.

Riding her horse Westerhoff Limit in the Tri Zone BE Eventer Challenge, Holliday was agonisingly close to winning the event behind Alexis Withers on Bo Bassett.

More than 90 riders entered the new event, a combined cross-country and show-jumping one-round event.

Holliday, 16, has been in partnership with her horse, nicknamed Limo, for little over a year. They have already won the Equifest event at the East of England Showground, and qualified at Carlton for the Blenheim Trials.

Holliday said: “It was the best result of my career. I’ve spent about six hours a week for more than eight months preparing for a day like that. I just wish we had gone 0.2 of a second quicker to win the event.”

Holliday has now set her sights on qualifying for the Horse of the Year showjumping events.