THREE young Kent horse riders excelled by collecting four titles between them at a national competition in Warwickshire. The trio, Kimberley Mayes, Aimee Stevens and Mary Liversidge, were all competing in the Trailblazers National Championships, a competition for unaffiliated horses.

The event was held over three days at the National Agricultural Centre in Stoneleigh and attracted an entry of 750. Two of the girls enjoyed their success in the dressage classes, with 17-year-old Kimberley, from Ickham, winning the senior novice category.

A pupil of Canterbury's Simon Langton Girls School, Kimberley has been a member of the West Street South Pony Club since the age of five and at Stoneleigh she competed on Valhalla the IV, who she has been riding for six months. She qualified at Limes Farm Equestrian Centre, Folkestone, where she is trained by Helen Geary.

The senior novice category was so big it had to be split into two sections, and Kimberley won her group before triumphing in the play-off for the top three in each section.

The win, against rivals a number of whom were far more experienced, was her biggest to date.

Mary, 13, from Ripple near Dover, rode Tablets of Stone, an ex racehorse who she has been riding for about a year, tutored by her mother Roseanne. She won the prelim section in the junior dressage and also came second in the junior novice championships having qualified at Blue Barn, Ashford.

She attends Sandwich Technology School and is a member of the East Kent Pony Club.

Aimee, from Bladbean, is also a member of the East Kent Pony Club, and attends Simon Langton. The 12-year-old has been riding her horse Erimus Maestro for a year. He was originally her sister Sophie's.

Aimee's wins came in the junior showjumping in the 75cm and 85cm height classes. She, too, had also qualified at Limes Farm, Folkestone.