YOUNG showjumper Sienna Charles, from Bentworth, helped Britain to second place in the Children’s Nations Cup competition in Opglabbeek, Belgium.

With three of the four riders posting clears across both rounds to finish on a zero penalty score, the British team were forced into a jump-off third round to decide the top two places.

They were up against the home nation, Belgium being the only other team to record a zero penalty score. Spain finished on an overall score of four penalties in third place.

Sienna rode Chaitanya 2, a nine-year-old grey mare owned by her father, Peter Charles, and their faultless performance across both rounds showed the others the way.

The jump-off was an exciting affair. Thirteen-year-old Sienna was first off and she and her opponent both went clear, with GB taking the lead thanks to Sienna’s incredibly fast time.

Britain increased their lead, but both teams finished with clears in the last two rounds.

There was then a tense wait while the judges added each team’s fastest three times together to decide the winners. Just under a second split the teams and Belgium edged it with their time of 130.08secs to Britain’s 131.07secs.