Hartpury's Holly Bradshaw wins the Pony Club Individual Dressage Championships 2009

Holly Bradshaw is a member of the Equine Academy Elite Squad at Hartpury College and competes in both Eventing and Dressage disciplines. At the recent Pony Club Dressage Championships 2009 Holly rode to victory on Varome, a Dutch bred chestnut gelding.

Holly Bradshaw said of her win: "I was so thrilled to finally win the Pony Club Dressage Championships as this has always been an ambition of mine! I was one of the first to go in the ride-off so when my score of 70.36 went up I didn't expect to stay in the lead for long as Varome was very spooky in the test! Although he was a handful, the judges' comments were very positive which was rewarding."

"It is such an advantage to have the opportunity to keep my horses with me at Hartpury whilst I am studying for my degree and I feel that Varome has really benefited from the excellent facilities available to the elite academy riders. In addition I am so grateful for all the dressage training with Nick (Burton) and Carl (Hester) that the elite academy riders receive, as it has proved to be a great asset to my riding and my horse."

Nick Burton, Equine Academy Director said: "I am absolutely delighted that Holly has won this year's Pony Club Individual Dressage Championship. Holly and Varome have been producing very consistent results all year and richly deserve this title."

See photographs of Holly riding Varome on page 66 of this week's Horse and Hound.