A NINE-year-old wins as the youngest rider to race at the Olympia horse show in London over Christmas.

Nell Stephens, from Pewsey, who goes to Woodborough Primary School is the youngest jockey to race in the Shetland Pony Grand National.

Nell who has been riding since she was just four said: "It' went really well and my favourite part has been everything. My older sister horse rode so I wanted to.

"I won a rosette as the prize. I hope I can ride the same pony, Tiffany, at the Royal Horse show next year."

She has just finished competing in the Liverpool International Horse show.

Nell's Mum Suzy Stephens said: "She managed to beat the fastest pony on the night so it was really something special.

"She's very shy and really struggles speaking to people but when gets on a horse it really helps her confidence.

"When she was in the race I couldn't believe it was her. She was giving it her all."

Nell has been fundraising for the official SPGN charity, The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and has so far raised nearly 1000 pounds with 11 riders raising a total of 50 thousand this year.

"This is her first year racing since the end of May and it is quite unusual for 1st year jockeys to gain their golden ticket to Olympia

"Nell has worked hard with Jockey coach and retired professional jockey Domonic Elsworth using the facilities at Oaksey House in Lambourn to get better and hopes to move into pony racing then become a national hunt jockey."