County girls feature well for Wales (From Western Telegraph)

County girls feature well for Wales

THE FIRST ever Welsh under-21 dressage team contained two local riders.

Nicola Roach, of Bethlehem, near Haverfordwest, was in the first Welsh team to compete at the Marlton Under-21 International at Marlton Stud in Wicklow, Ireland.

The 20-year-old was placed fourth in the young riders' championship, riding Cleo's Pride. The team of four was placed fourth overall.

Her trainer, Val Bradley of Narberth, said it was a strongly contested championship against riders who have been taking part for years.

The event on July 2nd and 3rd was Nicola's first, and last, competition in the under-21 category at this level.

She hopes to qualify for the regionals and the youth national training team, before joining adult competition next year.

"It will be quite a bit more competitive," she said. Nicola is training to become a primary school teacher and will start her final year at Trinity College, Carmarthen, after the summer.

She has been riding Cleo for six years. Cardigan's Katie Knight, riding Indiana Jones, was a member of the Welsh pony team at the event in Ireland.