LEYBURN 15-year-old Jodie McGregor is impressing selectors in the FEI Pony Trial event series, which can lead to a place on British Pony event teams.

The Wensleydale School student began her run in the pony trial series, open to riders aged 16 or under on ponies measuring 148cms or less, at the Oasby one-day event in the East Midlands where she finished third.

Jodie and her Connemara cross appaloosa 148cms gelding Spot On then travelled to the Weston Park BE event in Shropshire, where they finished fifth in the pony trial, less than four marks off first.

“Jodie was very pleased with her dressage test and she then jumped clear cross country, coming home one second inside the optimum time,” said mother Heidi Stewart. “She unfortunately had one show jump down, which meant she added four penalties to her score. It was halfway round the course at an oxer - Spot On just got a bit close and that cost them the win.”

Jodie will now take Spot On to the final pony trial at the Withington event in Gloucestershire, which is by invitation only, and then it will be on to the British Pony Championships at Brand Hall in Shropshire in early June.

A good performance in these two events could lead to a place on the GB squad at The Pony European Championships in late July. This are due to be held in Britain in 2010, at Bishop Burton College, which means there will be both individual and team places available for selected home country riders.