The Meridian Showjumping Championship will now present the Fraya Stokes Memorial Trophy in honour of 16-year-old Fraya Stokes, a talented rider who tragically died in a crash on the A449.

A spokesperson for the championship said: "Fraya loved this sport with everything she had, and we wanted to keep her dream alive in the most meaningful way we could.

Fraya Stokes attending her Prom. (Image: Supplied)

"From our very first Final, every rider will compete in Fraya's name — carrying her dream forward, one clear round at a time."

The trophy will be awarded for the first time at the championship’s inaugural final, which takes place from September 3 to 5, 2027.

Fraya’s family have been invited to attend the event as special guests.

Toni Bowater, who buys and sells horses with her brother Teejay knew Fraya well, describing Fraya as "like family to us."

Ms Bowater said: "Fraya was our jockey for the past 3-4 years.

Fraya was an established showjumper who had competed in many events across the midlands (Image: Supplied)

"Fraya had big dreams of jumping all over the country with her horses.

"We would take her to shows and cross country anything that would make her happy.

"Fraya was no doubt the best jockey in the midlands and we wanted to help Fraya fulfil her dreams.

"Tragically Fraya lost her life but we still want to continue her wishes and hoping to help fulfil her dreams as best as we can."

Ms Bowater said the team reached out to others in the equestrian community to organise a lasting tribute.

She said: "So the meridian championships reached out to me asking if they could help us fulfil these wishes as Fraya story and touched them deeply.

"It means every year riders will compete for this trophy in Fraya's name.

"So it means every year riders will compete (show jumping ) for this trophy in Fraya's name

"This will now be continued for years to come to help keep Fraya's name alive in the horse world."

Fraya Stokes, 16, lost her life on Friday, October 16 following a car crash on the A449 in Ashwood near Kingswinford. 

The Meridian Championship is a new unaffiliated showjumping series launching in 2027, with the Fraya Stokes trophy ensuring the young rider's legacy will be associated with the horse world forever. 

The Fraya Stokes Memorial Trophy details (Image: Supplied)