Horse rider Julie Milkins fought off 36 other combinations to take top spot in a national event.

JULIE Milkins from Winscombe, Somerset on her own 17-year-old dark bay mare Granita II, fought off 36 other combinations to take the top spot in the 0.95m national amateur second round held at Sparsholt College in Winchester, Hampshire.

In a 20-horse jump off, Julie and Granita II were drawn as the penultimate combination to go and they used this to their advantage as they knew exactly what they needed to do and duly achieved this with their double clear in 38.24 seconds.

Victoria Knight from Highbridge, dominated the Dodson & Horrell 0.95m national amateur second round at St Leonards Equitation Centre in Launceston, Cornwall.

Each competitor was jumping with the hope of picking up one of the tickets on offer to the Dodson & Horrell National Amateur Championships, which take place at Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool, between November 18-22.

Victoria secured the top three places with three double clears and she took the win on her own Flightline Panache, a 13-year-old chestnut mare. They produced their double clear in 38.17 seconds.

Victoria took second place on her own 18-year-old brown gelding, Universal Toyboy after delivering a double clear in 39.65 seconds. The hat-trick was completed on her own 12-year-old grey mare Charrat Z, with yet another double clear, this time in 48.00 seconds.