Blast from the past as young pony ace Osborne sees off Swan

Feeling old? You will be in a second.

Osborne beat Swan over jumps last weekend. It wasn't Jamie and Charlie, though. It was 16-year-old Saffie Osborne, whose Great Britain team came out the right side of a photo-finish with Harry Swan's Ireland to claim gold in the European Eventing Championships for Ponies at Bishop Burton College, near Beverley in Yorkshire.

It was the second leg of a big double for Osborne, who went on to claim an individual gold at the championships along with her team triumph.

"I know that my pony’s a careful showjumper but until you’ve gone over the finishing line you can’t be certain," she said.

European Championship glory was the latest addition to a glittering Osborne CV, which already includes individual and team silver medals in the championships in Hungary last year.

She will return to school in September to start her A-levels but has already set her sights on following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a jockey, though she has her eyes on the Flat.

Saffie Osborne with father Jamie at the Pony European ChampionshipsCredit: Adam Fanthorpe

Harry Swan, also 16, was the only rider to go clear in the showjumping part of the eventing championships and his father believes he gets the talent in that department from his mother Carol.

Charlie Swan said on Monday: "Harry's mum was very good at eventing and I have a feeling he gets all his talent from her. He did really well over the weekend and was the only one to have a clear round in the showjumping part, which was great for him.

"He enjoys it. Saffie was great too and she certainly has lots of talent as well."

Swan jnr has had four rides in bumpers on the racecourse, and had his first ride at the Galway festival this month when partnering Shelcomeonfordrun.

Alan King's daughter Georgia competed as an individual at the pony championships and, like Osborne, has ambitions of becoming a jockey, in her case over jumps.

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com