THE regional tetrathlon competition, a national event for the best teams from each region across the country, was held last weekend at Stockland Lovell near Bridgewater.

Tetrathletes from West Devon made up the backbone of the south west teams of five boys and five girls, who were determined to translate their individual successes into team results — although the competition has been running for almost 20 years, the South West region has never won.

The girls' team was captained by Louise Body, of Lamerton Hunt Pony Club, with Heather Fell, of Spooners and West Dartmoor, Tamsyn Barrington, of the Tetcott and South Tetcott, and Laura and Sarah Gomersall, from the Mid Devon. There were high hopes for this team, with the area committee that selected them daring to hope that for the first time the South West could win.

The swimming scores were good, all girls achieving well over 900 points, Heather doing the best of the south west girls.

In the shoot, the scores were sound rather than spectacular, but the run was excellent, leaving the girls in the lead for the final phase, the riding. Indeed, the girls had more than 400 points in hand over the next team, from Wales and the Borders, the best of the chasing seven regions. However, the riding course was imposing and well up to height, demanding a bold approach.

The first rider on the course, Louise, rode a beautifully judged clear round well within the time to set the standard. Tamsyn and Sarah Gomerall also rode good clear rounds, although Laura and Heather did collect some penalties.

But the other regions found the ride a difficut phase, and by the end of the day the South West team was still comfortably in the lead, followed by Central England and then Northern Ireland.

Individually, Sarah Gomersall, although one of the youngest competitors, was placed third and Louise fifth.

The boys' competition was much closer from the beginning, and there were no great expectations for the team. Daniel Preece and Michael Harris, of Lamerton Hunt Pony Club, were joined by Charlie O'Shea, team captain, from the Fourburrow, Tim Greenslade from the Tiverton and Tom Barber from East Devon.

Daniel had just returned from America, where he was the highest placed British boy in two international tetrathlon competitions, so there was no surprise when he swam, shot and ran well, despite the remains of jet lag.

After the first three phases the South West boys were second but there were five teams within a few points, so it was all to play for on the riding day.

Charlie as captain rode a steady clear round, followed by excellent clears from Michael and Tim, while Daniel and Tom had only one technical stop each, to leave the boys with the best ride score of all the teams to clinch the championships.

Individually, Daniel was third and Tom seventh.

Toby Ryan, also of the Lamerton, was entered as an individual and produced his best ride of the season to pull up to a pleasing total score.

Although the regional championships have been running for 20 years, this is the first time both boys and girls from the same region have won, and the first time the South West region has ever won either event — so, organisers say it was a pity they forgot the champagne!