Seventeen year old showjumper Issy King is thrilled at the great start both she and her horse, Quick Whirlwind, known as May, have made this year.

They finished second last week out of a large class at a Summerhouse British Show Jumping event and missed out on a win in the British Novice class by 0.4 of a second.

Issy said:?"May only has to get two more double clears and she will then qualify for the regional finals which are held in the Summer."

Issy and May aim to start jumping some bigger classes now ready for the five-year-old classes in April. Issy said:?"We haven't even tried to go fast yet but she is so naturally quick she definitely lives up to the name 'Quick Whirlwind'."

Issy started riding when she was four and when she met two year old Quick Whirlwind she was inspired to train her for competitions. The pair overcame a terrible injury to May's leg last summer, when Issy was told that May was unlikely to return to form.