It may be affectionately known as the 'Wee County' but Clackmannanshire became centre of the universe at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) held in France earlier this month, when Joanne Eccles, from Tillicoultry, took the individual gold medal in the women's individual vaulting competition.

To followers of this minority equestrian sport, Joanne's victory at the Zenith Arena in Caen, Normandy, came as no surprise as she is the current WEG champion having won in Kentucky in 2010 and between times took the World vaulting title at Le Mans in 2012.

Her international reputation spans a decade with victories too many to list; suffice to say that few athletes from any sporting discipline can boast her championship tally at European and World levels.

To cap two wonderful days of competition, Joanne joined forces with her equally talented sister, Hannah, to take the bronze medal in the pair's class.

Having never met a world champion previously, let alone hold in my hand a gold medal from such a prestigious competition as WEG, a visit to meet Joanne was more than I could resist and it didn't disappoint.

On my arrival at her parents' farm of Balhearty overlooked by the Ochils, I was quickly immersed in the world of vaulting as youngsters of various ages sporting the obligatory lycra trickled out of a barn towards their family cars.

It was the end of the Sunday session of the Wee County Vaulters, a club founded in 2001 by Joanne's parents John and Jane Eccles, whose daughters had already taken up the sport under the guidance of Ann Hunt based near Gleneagles.

In the interim period the club has grown with five horses and about thirty members. Tuesday nights at Balhearty are training nights with youngsters whose ability range from beginners to advanced.

Beaming with contentment if not delight, it was the girls' father, John Eccles, who met me at the stables to introduce me to his world of vaulting before I met his medal-winning daughters and understated wife Jane, who does what most mothers do to successfully hold the family together.

While John plays a pivotal role in his daughters' success as both lunger and coach, as public relations man for his family and sport he surely holds few equals.

The stables, indeed the whole set up at Wee County Vaulters, are practical in layout and design and totally unpretentious as were all things concerning the Eccles Family.

Strategically positioned in the only available space in the barn were the static mounts on which most of the initial practice is completed and first sight of the pads and saddles simply constructed but sophisticated in design to assist to vaulter.

The indoor arena with its sand-based surface was dominated by a perfect circle marked out during the practice session, which, at the risk of losing any 'street cred' on my newly acquired expertise in vaulting, had all the hall marks of a circus. (Will they ever forgive me?)

With its origins steeped in the ancient civilisations, interestingly vaulting only became formally recognised by the FEI in 1983 and is practiced by both men and women, competing in teams or as individuals.

As its name suggests there is a strong gymnastic element to the sport with sophisticated moves while the horse executes a steady canter on a circle of a minimum diameter of 15metres.

During competition, judging is based on various elements including technique, difficulty, balance and the crucial equine dimension of the horse itself.

Vaulting competitions are held over two rounds composed of compulsory technical tests and freestyle tests performed to music; the lunger as well as the vaulter is part of the competition and the performance of each is reflected in the final score.

After the second day of competition at Caen and the first round of freestyles, the top 15 who went through to the finals included both the Eccles girls, Joanne eventually heading the leader board and Hannah coming a very creditable ninth.

The girls competed on WH Bentley whose success has been well documented and is not only as famous as his owners but also considered by them as part of the family having joined Wee County Vaulters in 2000.

You can imagine their amusement when a letter recently came their way from South Africa, offering their trusty gelding a happy retirement home.

It is a given that the 20-year-old need look no further than the fields at Balhearty when it comes time for him to retire from competition but that could be a long way off.

By the Selle Français, Arlequin des Artes, and out of a Dales mare, Lambton Rose, this big 17.2hh horse belies his native origins although the benefits of the Dales cross was for a long time extolled by the late Glenda Spooner who crossed Dales mares with her famous pony Thoroughbred, Ardencaple, to produce successful hunters and eventers.

Needless to say, Henry (as he is known at home) steals the show although his stable mates are all experienced in competition.

There was so much to learn about this Cinderella sport of which little is known in Scotland despite the huge level of success it has enjoyed on the world stage.

The statistics alone speak volumes about the work and dedication which goes into the sport in Britain with its 500 vaulters compared to a staggering 40,000 registered in Germany alone.

Incredibly, it attracts no funding from SportScotland and competitions both at home and aboard are self-funded by the Eccles family, Wee County Vaulters and friends. Sponsorship is very limited so there is no fancy live-in horsebox, no grooms and no expensive lifestyle.

At Balhearty John runs a poultry unit, Jane helps in the stables and keeps home for the family, Joanne works as a dentist and Hannah has just gained a First Class degree in media and communications and looking for a job.

Their brother, Alexander, although not at all horse orientated, acts as driver and roadie on trips away.

Joanne compiles music tracks for the freestyle programmes and has taken to designing and making her own costumes.

Both Hannah and Joanne were quick to tell me that their sport is essentially equine in nature and not a branch of gymnastics; they ride for pleasure and they absolutely love their horses.

As for being a World Champion, Joanne admitted that it felt pretty special at the World Equestrian Games but now that she's home, everything is just the same and she's happy to be back to training and coaching, jobs which both sisters enjoy every bit as much as competition.

With a row of gleaming medals adorning the mantelpiece along with an invitation from the Horse of the Year Show to showcase their skills at this year's event, there's much for which this very modest yet enthusiastic family have to be proud.

Most endearing of their qualities which struck me was the intense sense of family which oozes out of every corner of their being and cemented by a love of horses.