Twelve-year-old Terrington Hall pupil Ellen Hobson made an immediate impact in her first major riding event at the Northallerton Horse Trials.

One of the youngest in a field of 117 riders, she had a clear round in show jumping on her horse Cookie and a clear cross country round.

Hobson said: “It couldn’t have gone much better for my first BE90 event. Cookie and I have some work to do on dressage but overall I was thrilled with our performance and it was so exciting to be competing alongside people such as Jodie McGregor.”

Hobson’s riding career began aged six when she took up riding lessons through Terrington Hall School at Chris and Nicky Pimlott’s Scrayingham stables.

“If Terrington hadn’t given me the opportunity to take up riding lessons during the school day, I might never have ridden,” said Hobson. “Chris and Nicky really set me on my way.”

Now stabling Cookie with Naburn Riding Centre, Ellen was a member of Naburn’s winning team at the NFU National Pony Club Quiz for two consecutive years in 2011 and 2012.

“Ellen lives and breathes riding,” said her mother, Vicky Hobson. “Every available spare minute is spent down at the stables, and the British team’s Olympic success has given her a dream to aspire to. One of her heroes, Mary King, has agreed to meet her later this summer and show Ellen her horses.”

Meanwhile, Hobson will leave Terrington Hall School this summer on an academic scholarship to Queen Margaret’s, Escrick.

Hobson and Cookie’s will be at Richmond Horse Trials tomorrow and at Bishop Burton on May 25.