SOPHIA Aurelia George (MON) wrote herself into the history books on Tuesday as she became the first athlete from Monaco to win the FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy. Her consistency across three classes and five rounds of Jumping at Mechelen (BEL) this week was rewarded with this prestigious victory aboard the 14-year-old gelding Berlioz d’Hennan.

The top 20 international athletes after three qualifying legs were invited to compete at the FEI Pony Jumping Trophy Final in Mechelen. Following the first two competitions, a speed and handiness class and a jump-off class, their combined placings were converted into penalties. The top 15 athletes from this ranking qualified to start in round one of the final two-round competition, carrying forward their converted penalties. Following round one, only the top 10 combinations proceeded to the final round, another full course of 1.35m fences.

George came into the final in fourth position on a converted penalty score of five (5), having finished faultless in fifth place in both last Saturday and Sunday’s qualifying classes. Ireland’s Charlie Flynn dominated both of these with the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare HK Zena. The electric combination won the opening speed class and day two’s jump-off class in convincing style to lead the standings on a score of zero going into today’s final two- round competition. An uncharacteristic 18 faults in the opening round of the final and a fence down in round two however saw Flynn drop eventual sixth place.

George, at just 14-years-old and with two further years on ponies ahead of her, was delighted with the win and the performance of Berlioz d’Hennan, the impressive bay gelding who is also 14 years of age.

“I am super proud of my pony, he jumped great,” she said. “I definitely did not expect to win here but I’m super happy I did! My dream would be to be able to ride at the Olympics, but maybe more realistic, the Europeans.”

Former winners of this prestigious final include Ireland’s Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Rhys Williams.