Tina takes positive view after setback

It was to be her first world championship and she was thrilled to have been chosen.

But Tina's hopes were cruelly dashed just two days before the team was due to travel out to Kentucky.

Her horse, Hello Sailor, was found to have a slight injury to his leg and so was not considered fit enough to travel.

"He's fine now," said Tina. "But when you get out there it's huge and you want to know that they are completely correct. But I was very disappointed."

That must be a considerable understatement but Tina has remained positive and says she has some great moments to look back on this year. This weekend this talented rider, along with her husband Graham, the former Olympic rider, will be in Yorkshire to encourage young up-and-coming riders who are taking part in a new 'X Factor' style show-jumping competition at the Countryside Live event at the Great Yorkshire Show ground.

The highlight of what has been a memorable year for Tina was being a member of the winning Nations Cup team at Hickstead. "To win on our home ground was lovely and to do it so convincingly. It was a great boost for British show-jumping...to win it with a zero show-jumping score was fabulous. Winning in Linz in Austria, also the Nations Cup, was memorable, too, and both times I jumped the winning round."

Tina hit the headlines again when she was second at the Hickstead Derby with Promised Land and more recently, at the Horse of the Year Show, she tied with Ellen Whitaker, again riding Promised Land, to win the Puissance, clearing the wall at 7ft 2in. This was Tina's first attempt at the Puissance.

She started riding at the age of four at home in Newbury in Berkshire and was very successful in Pony Club eventing and show-jumping. Her show-jumping career really took off when she moved up to Yorkshire to ride for Fred Brown in Otley in the early 1990s. She was ranked fourth in Britain and was reserve for the Olympic team during her time there. Fred Brown died suddenly and all the horses were put up for sale, meaning Tina had to start again.

She and Graham competed against each other on the show-jumping circuit before they were married. After their two sons were born – Oliver is seven and William 11 – she had a break from competing at top level and they concentrated on building their business in Faringdon, Oxfordshire where they produce and sell competition horses and train young riders.

Tina took over the ride on Promised Land from Graham when he stopped competing and has the backing of owners Lord and Lady Harris.

They bought Hello Sailor so that she could continue to ride him and recently invested in another top horse, Unique, for her to ride. All concerned would like to build a good team with London 2012 in mind.

It can be difficult to balance family life and the show-jumping calendar and Tina looks forward to the school holidays. This means they can all travel to events as a family.

"Peter Charles has children the same age and Michael Whitaker has children as well so they all have a ball," says Tina. "And at home it's a very family-run business. Everyone mucks in and mucks out."

The horses are having a break until Christmas and Tina and Graham are looking forward to this weekend at Countryside Live, which is a sort of mini version of the Great Yorkshire Show.

They will be putting around 40 riders through their paces in front of the audience and choosing six to go forward to the final, where one winner will be selected.

The prize includes spending two days at the Fletchers' yard.

"It should be fun and a great opportunity for people to come and ride in front of a crowd," said Tina.

Countryside Live takes place at the Great Yorkshire Show ground today and tomorrow.

Daphne proves a winner on race debut with Hell's Angel

AFTER a nervous start, Daphne Bourne-Arton's verdict was "b..... marvellous" after she made her racing debut last weekend – and won.

She rode Hell's Angel, trained by Ann Duffield, to victory in the Race for Repeal at the Countryside Raceday in Newcastle, raising 2,000 for the Countryside Alliance in the process.

There were seven riders in the race, all from northern hunts. Daphne, who whips in for the Bedale hunt, said: "It was very exciting but still second to hunting."

A reminder from the Badsworth & Bramham Moor that today is their newcomers' day.

They are meeting at the Campsmount estate near Doncaster. A newcomers' evening is also being held at the Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel on Wednesday.

For more information call the hunt secretary on 07977 627126 or go to www.bbmh.co.uk.

Other Yorkshire hunts planning newcomers' days include the Pendle Forest and Craven. Contact Tony Holmes on 01756 749647.

THE Yorkshire Sport Horse dinner and awards presentation is at the Bridge Hotel, Walshford on November 19. The evening marks the culmination of the equine competition year and includes a slide presentation featuring this year's stars. Tickets are 25 available from Liz Lorrimar on 01845 523236 or [email protected].

CW 23/10/10