BURNLEY rider Cara Howarth enjoyed her second appearance at the famous Olympia International Horse Show, where she was among 32 select qualifiers for the Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain and Moorland Ridden Showing Championship.

The ponies, representing all of Britain's native breeds, made a fine sight in the glass-topped Olympia arena and proved highly popular with the packed crowds. Cara, 19, was riding the pure-bred Connemara Kirtling Rob Roy and admitted to enjoying her time at Olympia more the second time around.

"I was rather nervous when I made my debut last year, as it's such a big occasion and the one everyone wants to qualify for," said Cara, a business degree student at Blackburn College.

"We both learned from the experience last time and Robbie behaved very well, giving me the chance to really enjoy the atmosphere."

The festive mood at Olympia makes it unique among British equestrian events and the show is nearly always a sell-out, with audiences enjoying the mix of displays and top-class international showjumping. The Mountain and Moorland Championship is the only showing competition at the event and months of hard work and training are needed to produce the ponies - who would normally be in thick woolly coats out in the field in December - at the peak of perfection.

"1999 has been a very good year for us," added Cara, who lives at Simonstone.

"Robbie is produced by Mandy Jackson, who does such a good job and Mandy was also at Olympia on the fell pony Townend Hamish."

Cara and Robbie finished just outside the placings this time, but Mandy claimed the fell best of breed award, on what was her 11th Olympia appearance, riding for Mrs Peet.

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