THE head girl at a Wilton riding centre saw off competition from 168 riders to secure a spot in the final of the All England Novice Championship.

Sam Stockley, pictured above, who is also an instructor at Grovely Riding Centre, finished in fourth place at Hickstead, with only the top eight qualifying for the final.

She was riding her own horse, Que Braveheart, and jumped a double clear round which also gives her qualification for the international arena.

It completes a successful year for the centre with another of Grovely’s riders, Danny Dunne, set to compete in the Newcomer’s Final for Young Horses at the Horse of the Year show next month.