Competing to the end.

Byline: By Neil B Jones

There were plenty of awards to win in the lead-up to the last three Autumn points accumulator four-section show cross and hunter trial series at Armondside Farm near Blackhall Mill this week.

The ground held up soft to good against heavy weekend rain and trophies provided by organiser Fiona Armstrong, who built four fair and interesting cross country tracks from an 18inch mini minimus to a 2ft 9 in intermediate course, contributed towards a record entry.

Among the series points winners was 11-year-old Amble junior rider Elizabeth Pettifer on her pony Sydserff Rebel ( a pure bred 14.2hh 12-year-old grey Connemara ( who scored a maximum 18 points in the Intermediate Junior Show Cross section over three outings.

Her nearest rival, Christian Selkirk, from Chester le Street, on the bay Fletcher, could only earn nine points in two outings.

The Intermediate Senior Show Cross and Hunter Trial sections were dominated by the Sunderland-based Emma Pearce and Tyler who took both sections from two outings with 11 points from a first and second.

Kate Leckenby took the Intermediate Junior Hunter Trial section on her 14hh seven-year-old bay mare Gem, missing out by one point on a clean sweep with two firsts and a second place, ousted by Elizabeth Pettifer on their final outing this week. 15-year-old Kate, well satisfied with the outcome after two wins at North Tyne and Todburn, said: "The pony was up for sale on an internet advertisement and her form contributed towards the mare being sold on after the event to a Lincolnshire young rider."

A friendly duel for the Triers S/C Junior section between Newcastle rider Samantha Rogers on her own 13.2hh 13-year-old grey mare Pepper and Whitley Chapel rider Gemma Common ended on the final outing when the latter stole the show by one point to finish on 17 points, one under the maximum three wins. 11-year-old Gemma riding her own 14hh 6-year-old dark bay mare Bailey only started competing with the pony at the start of this season.

A win for rider Helen Walker, taking the Minimus 2ft Senior S/C and Hunter Trial section could not have come at a better time after nearly losing her horse last year

A first, second and fourth places clinched the S/C section on a 14-point total set against nearest competitor Helen Hodge and Disney with seven points from two trips.

Helen said that her 17-year-old 15.2hh TB ex-racehorse bay mare Penny, hers for 12 years, had come back from near death, recovering after she called in a hands on healer