Stratford's Isla helps England to glory at the Royal Windsor Horse Show

STRATFORD’S Isla Holman-West helped England claim a record-breaking success in the DAKS Home International Mounted Games Championships at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland competed for the title over four days, in the presence of the Queen at Royal Windsor.

The England team, consisting of Holman-West, Amelia Swann, Chelsie Ledger, Elysee Williams-Ward, Sophie Grimshaw and Tillie Ball were selected from different pony club branches across the country, and importantly until they arrived at their training camp on Sunday 6th May, they had never ridden together before.

Trainer Ian Mariner had little time to bond with his team before the competition began on Thursday, 10th May.

Thirty-five riders were selected by their respective pony club branches to take part in the England selection trials at Dallas Burston Polo Club near Southam on 18th March, where they competed fiercely for the five coveted places and one reserve place.

Representing the North Warwickshire branch of The Pony Club was Holman-West, and despite the chilly conditions and numb hands, Isla and her pony Casper held it together to complete what appeared to be a perfect trial.

After a nervous wait, the England team was announced. Holman-West’s name was announced to a rapture of cheers from her family and pony club branch members and officials that had turned out to support her.

The show began and the team won the first three consecutive races. They continued to push on in the same vein to extend their lead throughout the competition and England finished on a record-breaking score of 209 points.

The team next ride together for England at the Curragh Racecourse in Ireland in October.

Final standings: 1 England 209pts, 2 Scotland 176, 3 Republic of Ireland 171, 4 Wales 136, 5 Northern Ireland 78.