Elizabeth Pettifer, 15, of North Togston, played a pivotal role in guiding the Pony Club Great Britain Mounted Games Team to victory in the 2008 International Mounted Games Championships.
The pony whizz was one of just two English riders to represent the five-strong team which took top honours against the might of Australia, New Zealand, America and Canada.
Held in Perth, the British team defeated the Australians in their own backyard, narrowly snatching the gong away from the hosts by just one point.
Elizabeth, the youngest member of team GB, said: “I didn’t expect us to win. Coming into the last race we were two points ahead but we didn’t know this.
“When they shouted the results out we thought we would be second but when they said we were first we just couldn’t believe it.”
Elizabeth, who has been riding for around 10 years, added: “I ended up with all the biggest ponies, something which I was not used to. So I was really pleased with my individual performance because it could have gone completely the other way.”
And the team’s success was shown across Australia with the highlights of the competition being shown on television down-under.
The riding ace, who is part of the Percy Hunt Pony Club, was selected for Great Britain on the back of her riding ability.
The international accolade is just the latest golden mark on an ever-impressive equestrian CV. Last October, she was one of six girls who represented Percy Hunt at the prestigious Horse of the Year show.
Competing at Birmingham’s NEC, the squad faced five of the best teams in the UK and rode to a respectable fifth place finish in the Farmers Guardian trophy.
Her proud dad Matthew thanked Hannah Coxon and Alison Gibson from the Percy Hunt club for their support. l Elizabeth Pettifer. Ref: 385090