A HEREFORDSHIRE rider saw success during a national qualifier.

Emma Slater held onto her early lead on Man From Del Monte during the event held at the Royal Bath & West Show in Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

It means the 45-year-old from Carey, south Herefordshire, will now directly progress to the Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Championship Final, which will take place during Horse of the Year Show this October.

The pair were the only competitors to break the 43-second mark.

"I am over the moon with how ‘Monty’ went," said Slater.

"He started off by giving me a lovely feel in the first round and with us being drawn fairly on in the jump off, I knew that I would have to push him against the clock and he responded beautifully.

"He made the fences seem smaller than they were today and showed great scope.”

Man From Del Monte is Jancey Wembridge's eight-year-old gelding.

Second place went to 23-year-old James Emblen from Woking, Surrey onboard his own 10-year-old bay gelding, Abon.

The third and final qualifying place went to 33-year-old Matthew Broome, from Newport, Gwent, with Hello Disckoboy D.N., a seven-year-old bay gelding owned by Lady Pauline Kirkham and Lady Pauline Harris. They produced their double clear in 44.82 seconds.