LOCAL nine-year-old equestrian Oakley Laghos-Stamp from Raddington, near Wiveliscombe, has returned from the World Individual Mounted Games Championship in Normandy, France, following a remarkable sixth-place finish.

Oakley and his home trained pony Flicka palomino Quarter horse x Shetland competed in the Under 12 age group against mounted games riders from all over the world. He won his way through the heats and semi-finals and was the only English rider to qualify for the final.

Oakley is fiercely competitive and although one of the younger riders in the category, he went into the competition with confidence and fresh from a win at the mounted games Spring Championship show in this country with his games team and two reserve champion places this season.

Mounted games is a fast pace sport where riders compete over a number of days in different races that involves huge skill, hand eye coordination, and athleticism scoring points; this is narrowed down to a semi-final section and those who make the top eight points scores go into the final to determine the U12 World Individual Champion.

Oakley’s previous individual results this season showed he had great potential to achieve big things this season, missing a final spot last year by a few points; he trained hard all winter with his pony improving their technique and speed at the equipment enabling him to do well in France.

The bond between horse and rider is a key element in equestrian sports and the connection between Oakley and Flicka is fantastic; they’ve been a partnership that’s grown from such a young age as his parents purchased Flicka even before he was born!

They have since gone onto breed a number of part bred quarter horses that they also compete with in mounted games.

Equestrian sport has been in the family for many years with both parents representing England in their careers.