AFTER winning the Individual Prize at the National Championships at Sansaw this year, local rider Aly Rowell now has aspirations of making the GB Olympic squad for the 2008 summer games in Beijing.

The Oxford graduate, who is now training full-time at Bath University, was duly awarded for her excellent season with the Tetrathlon Cup and the Mary Sage Memorial Trophy at Monmouth Pony Club's recent annual Presentation and Awards Evening, at Dingestow village hall.

The Monmouthshire Hunt Branch of the club, despite its relatively small size, succeeded in sending several teams to the 2005 National Championships.

Clubmate Angela Mace joined Aly at Sansaw, with both riding double-clears over testing showjumping and cross-country courses. Aly also qualified for the Senior competition at the 2005 National Tetrathlon Championships at Moreton Morrell, being placed third.

Megan Bransom also scooped two awards at the recent awards night - the Bowden Trophy and the Bowden Cup.

Amelia Bligh received the Salver for best Dres-sage test at the Senior Area competitions, while Rebecca Griffiths picked up the Rose Bowl in recognition of her excellent showjumping performances.

Lucy Henley was awarded the junior tetrathletes Smith Cup, and Angela Mace collected the Karen Powell shield for the best showjumping round at the Area competitions.

Also at the National Tetrathlon Championships at Moreton Morrell, the club's Novice girls team of Amelia Bligh, Lucy and Megan Henley and Jodie Scarr represented Mon-mouth, and came a respectable seventh place from over 40 competitors.

Meanwhile, the Novice Dressage team of Megan Bransom, Alivia Price, Ginty O'Sullivan and Rebecca Ellis had qualified for the Novice Championships in Cheshire, where the Novice Event team of Becky Griffiths, Becky Morris, Jodie Scarr and Amelia Bligh finished seventh.

Other awards were presented to Theo Shan (Oliver Smith Memorial Trophy for best Sports Boy in triathlons); Charlotte Price (Tack and Turnout prize); Lucy Morgan under-12s section) and Maddy Watts (under-9s section). The Fun and Friendship Cup went to Maddy Shan.

The presentation evening was concluded with words from rising star Aly Rowell, and Helen Hodgkin, about the highlights of their riding careers to date.

District Commissioner Jean Flynn also congratulated the branch members on another successful year.