A SURPRISE call from Chef de Quip, Sophie Stockdale, of the Cornwall junior show jumping team, came as a shock to Tavistock College schoolgirl Lara Hopkins and her pony Connemara Finn.

Lara, aged 14, is known for her exploits on her other pony, Deerpark Pele, on whom she won the local area Pony Club novice championships.

She was delighted  to be asked  to join the team on a pony she had competed on only  three times at affiliated level, winning the junior newcomers at Colraine, Callestick, two weeks previously.

The event, held at the Exeter Equestrian Centre, over a 1.10 metres (3ft 7ins) course was won by Devon A on four faults with Cornwall finishing second on eight faults. Finn and Lara had eight faults in the first round and four in the second with the best three scores counting from the four pony team in each round.

'I suppose we would like to have done better,' said Lara's father John Hopkins, 'But if you had told me we would have got him jumping this height three months ago I wouldn't have believed you. He was competing at 75cms when we bought him and knocking them down.

'A lot of thanks must go to Lara's coach, Launceston based Diana Strachan, who has improved both our ponies and rider since taking Lara under her wing.'