A FURNESS show-jumper leapt on to the podium at a prestigious national championships.

Morgan Pearce was second in the individual intermediate show-jumping competition at the Pony Club Championships with her horse Pentrecoed David, known as Edward.

The 19-year-old is the first Furness and District Pony Club member for many years to make it to the Open National Championships.

The Barrow teen was one of only three combinations to achieve a triple clear from some 70 starters over the testing and up-to-height track in Cheshire.

She and Edward flew around courses of 1m in the first round, 1.05m in the second and 1.10m in the jump-off of the Virbac 3D Worming-sponsored event.

Pearce, who has had Edward for just over a year, said: “I was shocked to start with, I don't think it sank in for a couple of hours how much of an achievement it was.

“I'm very glad we made the decision to go. He tried his heart out for me as always, and received lots of lovely comments.”

Having gone clear twice, Pearce's jump-off plan was just to do so again as she did not want to knock Edward’s confidence after already jumping so well.

“We were second to jump in the last round and, after jumping clear and going into the lead, then watched as the following competitors tried for the time and ended up with fences down," she said.

There was a narrow margin between first and second places come the finish. Cathy Almond, Furness and District Pony Club's district commissioner, said: “We are amazingly proud of Morgan, she has done incredibly well. We wish her every success for her future equine career.”

Pearce starts a veterinary physiotherapy degree at Harper Adams University this month as she plans to become an equine physiotherapist.

After Myerscough College, she had a gap year working at a racing stud yard and a dressage competition yard.

Pearce found Edward at equine college. He became a favourite and, despite not being the most straightforward horse, he got her confidence back, for which she “owes him a lot”.

The Furness youngster also competes the Welsh Section D pony in the mountain and moorland working hunter ranks with great success.

She was second on equal marks with the winner in a Horse-of-the-Year Show qualifier at NCPA Staffs and was fourth at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in a HOYS qualifier against top combinations.

Pearce was a novice working hunter winner and champion and working hunter winner of winners reserve champion at the British Show Pony Society Summer Championships.

“This season he's turned his hoof to everything I've asked and more, going from strength to strength as the season has gone on” she said of Edward. “I couldn't have asked any more of him this year, still being a novice and he had never even jumped a workers course just over a year ago.

“We've always said he will be next year’s horse and I'm so excited to see what he comes back like after his winter holiday and what next year brings for us both.”

Pearce is also a member and committee member of Ulverston and District Equine Club, a member of BSPS 1B and she joins British Show Jumping next year.