Emily King has been crowned the Under-21 National Champion, writes Stephen Birley.

The 15-year-old Salcombe Regis teenager, daughter of six times Olympian Mary King, crowned a superb 2013 by landing the top national honour after coming second in the Patey Hats Corne Young Rider event held at Weston Park’s Festival of Youth in Shropshire last month.

The triple points she banked in the series finale sealed her the honour of being crowned Under-21 National Champion.

The talented rider said: “I am so thrilled to have won this honour. I am old enough now to understand the assumption from some that because I am the daughter of the legend that is Mary King I have it all laid out before me. However, reality is that I still have to work hard and I am keen to be my own person. I could not do that without the great support I get both from home and elsewhere and I really am so grateful for all the support I have received so far. I am so lucky to be able to work with a wonderful horse like Brookleigh. To be crowned National Champion is another step to our ultimate goal and the 2016 Olympics.”

Emily is set for an exciting start to 2014 when she travels to Florida to spend a month working for top US show jumper Lauren Hoff.

The youngster says: “It’s a great opportunity to work with one of the sports top riders.”