On top of the world!

AS the 2012 Mounted Games Season draws to a close, Monmouthshire Pony Club members Ben Hopkins and George Knight Eddins have produced an outstanding performance at the World Pairs Championships in Nottingham.

The young riders aged 10 and 11 took on pairs from all over the World to take the World Title by a close margin where their main rivals British Pairs Champions Eleanor Wheeler and Carline Barbour this time had to settle for the reserve spot.

Hopkins and Eddins paired up earlier this year and have had a remarkable season. They both ride for Monmouthshire Pony Club and Monmouthshire Mounted Games Team, recently they took the British Team title and also won with Wales two weeks ago, now the pair are the new World Champions.

They competed over three qualifying sessions on Saturday and Sunday then stormed the Semi finals, qualifying in top spot for the final which was held on Sunday, September 16.

The boys led from the start and commanded the final, although it was nail biting at times!

Everyone is really very proud that Monmouthshire now has two World Champions and the boys really do feel on top of the world!

As the season draws to a close, the ponies will be rested before training begins for the 2013 season in December.

The boys would like to thanks their parents and trainer Iain Hopkins for the dedication and time spent with them training and making them true champions, but most of all they would both like to make a special mention of their wonderful ponies Merlin and Boyo, because they after all are the real Champions!