PIPPA Allen has achieved the dream of every show jumper by scoring a win at the world-famous Horse of the Year Show - for the second year running.

The 14-year-old from Thornaby claimed the 138cm championship at the NEC, Birmingham, adding to the 128cm title she won last year.

Pippa took two ponies through to the jump-off in the 138cm championship, for riders aged 14 or under.

She opened the second round on her strawberry roan mare Strawberry Fair III, who had the last fence down in a quick time to finish fifth overall.

"Her second ride was the chestnut Sakami Chezni, who is only seven and was having a good look at everything in the first round," said her father, Peter Allen.

"Pippa knew by that stage that she'd really have to go for it and she did, winning by nearly 1½ seconds in the end. It's an awesome show and to win there is just brilliant."

Pippa also finished third in the top pony class on offer, the Leading Junior Show Jumper of the Year final, after jumping another great double clear on Spot the Lady.

At just eight, her younger sister Millie Allen was the youngest competitor in the show jumping classes, but was far from overawed.

"Millie was fourth in the 128cm championship on Matthew's Girl, a grey mare who originally came from Ireland and who she jumped in the Welsh leg of the Home Pony International series," added Mr Allen.

"She had a very fast time, but one pole down in the jump-off. This pony can get a bit exuberant and Millie had to work hard, so she did really well."

Pippa will now be travelling to the Morselle Pony International in Belgium with Spot the Lady, to gain experience of competing abroad.

Darlington rider Vicky Tulloch was also close to a win in the national show jumping finals.

She finished second in the Seven-Year-Old Championships on her Dutch warmblood mare Soliegette, who was making her second appearance at the show.

"She had two down in the Six-Year-Old final last year, but I enjoyed this year's show much more," said Vicky. "It wasn't quite so intimidating the second time and my mare was a superstar who coped well with the atmosphere."

The horse was one of just five to go clear in the first round and was then drawn last against the clock.

"I had to make the decision of whether to go for it and risk hitting a fence, as a fast time had been set by Laura Renwick, or go a little more carefully for a clear," Vicky said. "In the end I decided on the second option, but still got pretty close to the winner's time, finishing second with the only other double clear."

The pair now go to an international meeting at the UNEX Towerlands arena in Essex later this year, where they will contest the 1.40m open classes.

Soliegette and Vicky, who has a degree in classical studies from Newcastle University, also won the Seven-Year-Old Championship title at the Welsh Masters this summer.

Northallerton's Paul Barker was third in the Seven-Year-Old Championship on the bay stallion Temple Sandor Z, who beat the winner's time by nearly three seconds, but at the expense of one fence. He was also sixth on the mare Sonybanta, who had one down in the opening round, and fourth in the Senior Newcomers Championship on the big six-year-old grey Caloux Z, who jumped two faultless rounds.