A PUB landlady has won a place at Badminton after winning a regional final at Skipton Horse Trials.

Esme Mitchell travelled to Craven from the Cotswolds with her horse Donau VDL to win the Mitsubishi Motors Cup BE100 regional final.

She will now go forward to the world famous Badminton Horse Trials in May next year, where she will compete in the amateur competition up against a hundred other qualifiers.

Esme, 49, who only started affiliated competition riding in 2012, was delighted after qualifying at Skipton at the first opportunity.

She said: “Skipton is definitely a venue worth a visit – you drive over the moors into the prettiest valley with the most stunning backdrop all around you.

"I think it would have been a fantastic day even if we hadn’t won. Everyone was so lovely; real Yorkshire hospitality."

In a class of 46 riders, Esme posted an excellent dressage mark of 24.3, as well as then jumping clear rounds in both the cross country and show jumping phases, giving them a strong lead ahead of the rest of the class.

Esme runs The Red Lion at Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire.