WHITEHILL girl Poppy Foster tasted victory in the Shetland Pony Grand National at the London International Horse Show at Olympia.
The event was the thrilling culmination to 12 months of demanding competitions for the 12 year old from the south of England to Scotland, including high-profile events such as the Badminton Horse Trials and the Great Yorkshire Show.
The racing series is noteworthy as the breeding ground for future champion jockeys and the achievement is all the more remarkable as it was Poppy’s first year of racing.
Poppy was one of the 11 finalists who raced daily during the seven-day event, securing a victory in her first performance. She received her winning rosettes from Bob Champion, making her already remarkable experience all the more memorable.
The event was enjoyed by more than 90,000 visitors, including Princess Anne and the Duchess of Cornwall.
The competitors raised more than £20,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital, with Poppy personally contributing £2,500 which included donations from the Alton Convent School community, and sponsors Town and Farm and Snow Finel, along with her family and friends.
After a few days of respite, Poppy was equally elated to participate in the inaugural Liverpool International Horse Show early in January. Once again Poppy and her Shetland Pony, Shoormal Veev, triumphed, bringing a breathtaking sequence of races to a victorious conclusion.