Local equestrian rider Sinead Cox has enjoyed a successful summer competing with her two horses in England.

During her first season as a senior, Sinead has made a remarkable transition to horses with Cando 6 and Valtaire at British Showjumping classes across the country.

She has certainly made her mark and has since been selected for the British Showjumping Sporting Success programme designed to help support promising 16-18 year olds make the move from ponies to horses.

The programme will provide training for Sinead out of term-time and a mentor will accompany her to selected competitions.

Among the results achieved over the summer, Sinead competed in the British Showjumping Nationals Championship Members Cup final where she was sixth on Cando 6 and seventh on Valtaire out of 125 in class.

Sinead was the Scope festival winner in the 110cm championship on Valtaire, meaning she has recorded almost 20 top-three finishes on the horse since the middle of July.

With Cando 6, Sinead recorded her first 130cm when finishing fourth and went double clear at Dean Valley in Cheshire.

Valtaire was first out of 223 in the 1m qualifier at the All England Showjumping Championships at Hickstead and went on to finish third in the championship in the main ring.

At these championships, she stepped Cando 6 up to 120 level and was delighted to have only four faults in each round, gaining a lot of experience along the way.

She is now looking forward to national amateurs finals where both horses are qualified in the 105 and 110 classes and has already qualified both horses for next year’s championships and Members Cup National final 2020.

Sinead would like to thank the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for its continued support, Isle of Man Sport Academy for its help and her trainer Mark McCourt for his many hours of work.