YOUNG horserider Nicole Uren is celebrating after winning a national title.

Nicole, aged nine, from Radcliffe, beat 45 other finalists to win the Waxwing First Ridden Championship at the Ponies UK national Winter Championship on Good Friday.

Taught by Susan Craven, of Ainsworth, and riding Lynda Hexham's horse Penric Vision, Nicole has only been riding in first ridden classes since July.

Mrs Hexham said: "We went to the championships hoping for a placing, but things just got better and better. We couldn't believe it when Nicole won the championship."

Another rider, Dina Kavanagh, six, who has only been riding for four months, was placed fourth riding Penric Vision in the Colne Confined Novice M&ML/R Class.