LITTLE Downham rider Barry Meningen took first place at Isleham s first equestrian meeting of the year. The Isleham One Day Event took place at the Whitehall Farm Complex on Saturday and Sunday and was in aid of Epilepsy Action. The meeting attracted more

LITTLE Downham rider Barry Meningen took first place at Isleham's first equestrian meeting of the year.

The Isleham One Day Event took place at the Whitehall Farm Complex on Saturday and Sunday and was in aid of Epilepsy Action.

The meeting attracted more than 500 entries, with both local and national riders taking part, the most notable of which was Team Great Britain member Oliver Townend who competed on 10 horses over the two days in various classes.

One-day eventing is made up of three disciplines: dressage, show jumping and cross-country, with each undertaken by the same rider and horse combination. Each section is scored individually and the totals added to make the final score. As the levels progress the courses get harder and the cross-county longer to reflect the level.

In wet and tricky conditions Meningen rode News For You to success in the Novice section G on Sunday.

On the same day Soham's Fiona Jonason rode Zinzan Tiger to second place, behind Townend, in the Intermediate section J, Townend also took a second place in the Novice section H.

Of the other local riders taking part, Ely's Becky Mulley rode Harley's Venture to sixth in the Intro section L, and Polly Taylor, from Little Downham, Kate Sullivan, from Ely, and Alice Norman, from Mepal, finished outside the placings in their respective categories.