CASTLEMORTON rider Stella Baylis and her horse Bright Colours won the British Riding Club Horse of the Year championship at Hartpury College.

Representing the Malvern Hills Riding Club at the two-day European event, Stella proved what all-rounders she and Bright Colours are by competing in the dressage and show jumping on Saturday and then a showing class on Sunday which was judged on manners, jumping and suitability for all riding club events.

Winning the novice event, the pair went forward to the overall championship and when the whole weekend's points were added up they came out tops.

Praising her horse Bright Colours, Stella said: "He was the youngest horse in the class being only five years old. I have owned him since he was a yearling, he was bred by Alison Wilkes from Ledbury, by Setters Hill a stallion that is based in Herefordshire."

The Malvern club was also represented by club secretary Katherine Jones who completed the two day competition on her horse Malvernian (local retired National Hunt and Point to Point horse trained by Martin Jones and previously owned by Mrs Yvonne Allsop of Wellington Heath).

Katherine said: "The riding club is delighted that Stella has achieved this prestigious award, and this has been all the more of an achievement as her horse is so young."