STANHOPE rider Amy Young came close to winning the prestigious indoor cross-country title at this year's British Open Show Jumping Championships at the NEC, Birmingham.

The event is one of equestrian sport's most thrilling competitions, in which riders tackle a specially-constructed course which mixes show jumping and cross-country against the clock.

Among Amy's rivals were World Equestrian Games gold medallist Zara Phillips, New Zealand Olympic medallist Andrew Nicholson and Australian triple Olympic gold medallist Matt Ryan.

Amy, the second youngest rider in the competition at 21, took the lead with a flying round on her Young Rider European gold medal-winning partner Highville.

She said: "The course started over seven show jumps and then went on to the cross-country section, which included a double of corners and a triple brush arrowhead.

"Two seconds were added for every show jump down and I had a couple of the uprights down as I was going so fast, but we still took the lead."

The title and £1,250 in prize money looked within her grasp as the final rider, Belgium's Raf Kooremans, came in.

"Raf had three show jumps down, but really went for it cross-country and beat me by less than 0.3 of a second," added Amy.

"The arena was packed with spectators who really got behind you and cheered you on, which was great. I didn't think I'd have much chance of a place coming into the event, in such a strong field, but with the crowd behind me I just got carried away. It was a great buzz."

Amy, who has secured a sponsorship deal with Northumberland-based company Airowear Ltd to endorse their equestrian body protectors and helmets, will now take Highville back to his 'day job'. The pair will contest the Chatsworth CIC*** international one-day event in Derbyshire in May.

Amy added: "We have then been asked to take part in the trial team event for the 2008 Olympics out in Hong Kong in August, and we will be away for three weeks."