A tick away from taking top prize

Published on 28th December 2007 in Sport

Fifteen-year-old Emma Stoker, from Great Heck, came within less than one second of winning the BSJA Rising Stars Competition at the Olympia International Horse Show in London, Britain's richest indoor equestrian event.

The Rising Stars is one of the top pony jumping competitions in the country, for riders aged 16 or under, and an invitation to compete at Olympia is highly prized.

Emma, a member of the John Whitaker International Pony Squad and reserve for the British team at the 2007 Pony European Championships, rode the nine-year-old skewbald pony Tick Tock Two Tone.

"Olympia was exactly as Emma had hoped it would be – there aren't many collecting rings where you find yourself riding with ex-World Championships and top internationals," said mum Mrs Sarah Stoker. "They were all encouraging the youngsters and asking about them."

Emma and Tick Tock Two Tone jumped one of ten clears in the opening round of the competition and then had the disadvantage of being drawn first in the jump-off.

"Tick Tock Two Tone went into the tunnel leading into the international arena and just stared upward – he was quite star-struck by all that was around him," Mrs Stoker continued.

The duo jumped a superb opening round that left many of their rivals having fences down in an attempt to beat them. They still held the lead when the last rider in – Retford's Jordan Whittaker – entered the arena.

"Emma had put in an extra stride to the last fence, a big oxer by the arena wall which many were having down, in her round," Mrs Stoker commented. "Jordan just kept going to the fence, which made up just under a second, and it stayed up. We felt Emma had done the right thing though and she rode well and really earned her second place."

Tick Tock Two Tone was again taking it all in during the presentation, in front of the big crowd that Olympia always attracts.

"He just kept staring up at the crowd – Olympia is a lovely show and the youngsters feel so important riding there," Mrs Stoker concluded.

Emma will make the journey up to Scotland for the Rowallan Junior Show over the New Year and will then take part in the BSJA Premier Shows series early in 2008.