A BIRTLE-based equestrian team has galloped to success in its first competitive outing.

The four-strong BurtlesBes squad raced to the honours at the recent Rochdale Show. Apart from scooping individual prizes in the dressage festival section, the quartet also won a trophy for being the best team.

BurtlesBes, which trains at Marcroft Centre off Elbut Lane, are riders Lisa Haywood, Nicci Bunting, Natalye Standage and Gillian Gallagher. Natalye said: "It was the first time the team had ever ridden competitively together. Lisa managed to win her preliminary class. Gillian came third in her preliminary class and Nicci finished third in her novice class. I came fourth and fifth in the novice and preliminary classes.

"Overall our team was the best on the day and to our great surprise we won the Kirsti Higgs memorial trophy."