STAFF and students at Weelsby Riding For The Disabled school are riding high after their best-ever haul of rosettes in a national competition.
They won three first places, securing automatic selection for the RDA national championships next year.
Four horses and six riders from Cleethorpes and Grimsby RDA at Weelsby took the long road to Hartpury College, Gloucestershire, for the national championships.
They returned with rosettes for the three first-placed riders and a number of second-placed rosettes.
The Weelsby school's chief instructor, Shirley Kay, said: "We are very proud. We are delighted to have got three class champions."
Emma Wells, of Barnetby, rode Samwise, a piebald cob, in two disciplines, dressage and freestyle to music.
She won first place in dressage with a score of more than 78 per cent, making her the overall class champion.
That also gives her automatic entry into the 2014 championships.
Later, she gained 67 per cent, earning her second place in the freestyle event.
Emma, who is wheelchair-bound through muscular dystrophy, said she was delighted with her achievement.
She said: "It was great to see the name of Paralympian Sophie Christiansen, on the silver salver. Who knows, it could be the Olympics next for me?"
Jackie Smeeton and Julie Holmes took part in the walk and trot dressage.
Julie, of Stallingborough, scored nearly 75 per cent, giving her first place and the overall class champion title.
Jackie scored more than 73 per cent and took second place.
In dressage with canter test, Mark Griffin came first with 73.5 per cent and Karen Pocklington came second with 72.9 per cent.
In the freestyle test, Mark, 45, of Holton-le-Clay, came first overall.
Mark, who suffered a head injury in a road accident 14 years ago at Caenby Corner, said: "The extra preparation paid off. I didn't expect to win. It felt good to win and we celebrated with a few drinks and a disco at the end."
He added: "Looking back over the years you can see the improvement. There are always new challenges."
The riders thanked Shirley and fellow instructor Jenny Leggett for their patient tuition over the past year and the support of the school.
They also thanked Carol Scott, Chloe Denton and Roy Hampson for caring for the horses at Hartpury.
The group meets every Wednesday and Thursday mornings and welcomes new helpers.
Volunteers can contact association secretary Sally Amos on 01472 815027 or Roy and Jean Hampson on 01472 588107.
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