ELLEN McDonald enjoyed a rewarding trip to Laurel View on Sunday for the Northern Region’s third show of the year and the sixth of its winter league.

On board her father Jim’s well-known German riding pony Dante Alighieri, the 13-year-old FS Don’t Worry chesnut, on whom she represented Ireland at last year’s European pony championships in Poland, McDonald saw off five more senior rivals to win the Medium BD75 on 68.38%. This score was awarded by Jane Whitaker (List 3a), one of five judges on duty at the Templepatrick venue.