A WELLINGTON School student is heading towards a national equestrian triumph.

Ellen Cowling, in Year 11, was recently placed ninth in the country at the Pony Club Open Eventing Championships held at Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire.

Having qualified with her horse, ‘Pleasant Surprise, at Pontispool over her first attempt at a BE Novice/PC Open track, she then had just a few weeks to prepare for her first 1*.

The competition was held over two days, with dressage the day before and show jumping and cross country the following morning. With the dressage out of the way, heavy overnight rain added an extra dimension of difficulty to an already challenging course.

Ellen and Pleasant Surprise were one of just 54 out of 145 competitors to finish without cross-country jumping penalties.