SHOW jumper Rosemary Tillson came close to a double at the popular Hatton Show near Warwick.

Tillson, from Mere Green near Droitwich, was competing in the BSJA affiliated senior show jumping classes, and she opened the day's action with a win in the British Novice class. This was on the Belgian-bred chestnut FI Tassotti who, at just four, was one of the youngest horses in the class.

"The horse was bought as a three-year-old by Frankley International, who specialise in producing young continental horses," said Tillson.

"The class was a two-phase competition, where you went straight on to a shortened jump-off course, and FI Tassotti was the only horse to jump a double clear."

She rated the course as a "bit spooky", with Elmbridge-based course designer Chris Napier including a brush fence on his track that "took out three quarters of the field."

She went on to finish third in the Foxhunter class, held over a considerably higher course for horses with more experience. This was on the "enormous" 18hh chestnut Kalorik, who is also Belgian bred and owned by Stourport's Jean Plant.

"Only four reached the jump-off in the Foxhunter," Tillson added.

"I was second to go and was going well against the clock, but just got a bit too deep to a black and white oxer. Kalorik took the front rail off, which was unlucky."

The Foxhunter class was won by Beoley Green-based 17-year-old Michael Eilberg, on Llandro. The teenager enjoyed a successful career on ponies and is the son of top dressage international and renowned dressage coach Ferdi Eilberg.

Cookhill-based Debbie Phillips finished second in the British Novice class at Hatton, on Dutchman's Choice.

Kidderminster's Julia Dolling also found herself in second place, this time in the Discovery class. The 22-year-old was among nearly 40 starters in the class, on his eight-year-old chestnut mare Change of Heart.