JO Malcolm and her charge Rasslan teamed up to great effect in the annual Endurance Southern Championships, winning it for the fourth time.

The 28-year-old represented Wessex at the event and was able to celebrate further joy with her team-mates after they finished second in the team competition.

Malcolm, Jade Fordham, Dean Brown and Holly Milnes, who are all based at Windmill Stables, Portland, made up the Wessex contingent.

The feature class, in which Malcolm and Rasslan rode, was a 130-kilometre endurance ride in Berkshire, and her subsequent victory has assured them of a place in the England squad for an international event in Scotland over 160km.

Malcolm said: “This time victory means so much as it’s the biggest distance they have hosted.”

The Portland rider first joined forces with Rasslan, now 10, when the horse was just a two-year-old after her sister bought her from a racing stud in Dubai.

She added: “My interest in endurance started 16 years ago when I had a pony on loan at Windmill Stables.

“The owner, Sue Lees, encouraged me to take a keen interest in the sport, and I have been hooked ever since.

“Sue trained me through my younger years and we have since become an extremely knowledgeable team along with my crew member and dear friend Ann Wilson.

“Both of them helped us achieve our result this weekend. I am overwhelmed with our success over the 130km course and have high hopes for our Scotland trip but, more than anything, I hope this puts a smile on my nan Dorothy’s face, who is currently poorly in Poole hospital.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Malcolm and Rasslan should get in touch with Windmill Stables on 823719.