THERE was stunning success for West Devon competitors at the Pony Club National Tetrathlon Championships last weekend at Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire.

The event attracted 230 competitors from across the UK, who shot, swam, rode and ran despite the searing heat and humidity. There were 26 girls teams and 14 boys teams, as well as individuals, all of whom qualified through their local area competitions.

Heather Fell from Spooners and West Dartmoor Pony Club was the winning individual in the girls' competition and Daniel Preece from the Lamerton was top boy in his class.

The Lamerton boys' team of Daniel Preece, Michael Harris and Toby Ryan were at a disadvantage throughout, as there were only three of them, and they had to compete against other clubs with four team members.

Only the best three scores count, so none of the Lamerton boys could afford a mistake. All three shot well, and Michael and Toby produced personal bests in the swimming, to leave Lamerton in third place going into the riding phase.

The course was big and up to height, and all three boys rode well, Daniel and Michael going clear and Toby only having a few technical and time penalties, despite temperatures of over 32C.

The support teams of parents and supporters were much needed after the riding phase, washing down the horses and cooling them off.

The run the next morning was hard, but Daniel and Toby each ran 3,000 metres cross country in about 10 minutes 30, despite the long pull uphill at the end. Michael completed the course to equal his best ever run time to clinch third place behind the much older and more experienced team from the Quorn Pony Club, and the Meath, from Ireland.

Daniel scored over 4,400 points in total to win a gold medal and his class, and at only 16 was overall third behind two 21 year olds.

He and Toby are off to the Modern Pentathlon Championships at Millfield next weekend, together with Heather Fell and Tamsynn Barrington, of the Tetcott, and South Tetcott, another local competitor who was awarded a silver medal for her points score of over 4,000.