Comment

Georgie Spence has set her sights on representing Great Britain at senior level in the next couple of years after holding her own on her Badminton Horse Trials debut.

The 19-year-old from Foxham finished a creditable 30th on Running Brook and won a saddle for being the highest placed British rider aged under 25.

She said: "I'm really pleased with how it went.

"I think I coped well with the pressure of it being my first time, I'm lucky in that I don't find it too much of a problem.

I don't really notice the crowd at all, once I'm riding I only concentrate on that job. I did the national young riders last year so I'm aiming for young riders again this year. Then after that I want to break into the senior team in the next couple of years."

Spence looked set for an even higher finish until Running Brook knocked down four late fences in the final show jumping round.

But the teenager had nothing but praise for her horse. "It could have even been better but I think he was just a bit tired," she said.

"He was superb in the first two rounds so I was really pleased. My parents are really happy for me and the horse that we got round the cross country. It was a great weekend for us."

The horse will have a short break before tackling some three star internationals and hopefully will be at Burghley in September.

Spence went straight on from Badminton to the new Bickenhall one day event near Taunton, where she picked up a fourth on her pre novice ride, the six year old bay Velosity.

"I bought this horse a year ago from a lady who'd brought him over from Holland semi-broken, and he's by a show jumping stallion," Spence added.

"I'll be off to the Chatsworth International Horse Trials in Derbyshire at the weekend, with Trenear and Song for Gull."

10:06am Thursday 8th May 2008

Print

Email this

Comment