MEMBERS of the Berwyn and Dee Pony Club have qualified to compete at this year's Horse of the Year Show in October.
The team, made up of competitors aged from 12 to 15 includes George Betts, Molly Hughes, Rebecca Butler, and brothers, Thomas and Greg James.
Along with Katie Tomley, their non-riding reserve, they won the hotly contested Mounted Games Competition at the Pony Club Championships at Draycott, Derbyshire.
Now, with the help of their trainer, Elaine Trevor-Jones, they will compete to win the Prince Phillip Cup at the national event at the NEC, Birmingham, in October.
Carolyn James, head of discipline for the club and mother of Thomas and Greg, said: "We haven't had a team in the Horse of the Year Show since 1998, so it is a huge achievement for the five of them. They have put in a lot of hard work and effort.
"At the moment I don't think the reality of what has happened has quite sunk in, but they are very excited and looking forward to the event."
The team will now start an intense training regime, that they hope will give them the edge when they take on Oakley Hunt West, Badsworth Hunt, Devon and Somerset, Orkney, and Rockwood Harriers.
"We are one of the top six teams in the country, so that alone is worth a lot to us," Mrs James said. "But I think we have as good a chance as any of the other teams to take home the trophy. The team is strong and they are looking forward to the challenge."
The Mounted Games discipline, which is described as "fast and furious", involves team relays that are similar to gymkhanas, with each event using four of the team's five riders.