THREE TOP EIGHT FINISHES FOR GEORGINA

CLAPHAM 17-year-old Georgina Somerset has just returned from France, where she notched three top-eight placings in an international Under-21 dressage competition. The Chichester College AS student was riding for Great Britain at the Saumur Dressage International, where she was up against many of the most talented young dressage riders from all over Europe.

Georgina was competing in the junior competition at Saumur, for riders aged 18 and under. She was in fine consistent form throughout the meeting, finishing eighth in the Team Championship test, seventh in the Individual test and sixth in the Kur To Music riding the 17-hands high German stallion Royal Angelo II.

On the competition in which riders perform a test of their own devising to a selection of taped music, her father Clement Somerset reported: "Georgina was particularly pleased with the Kur To Music. She used music from The Gladiator. Royal Angelo is a big imposing horse, and this really suited him.

"Georgina has also recently benefited from a training session with Olympic dressage rider Jennie Loriston Clarke, where she again performed the Kur test and it went down very well."

Georgina is a past winner of team bronze at the Pony European Dressage Championships and her talents were recognised earlier this year when she was offered assistance from the lottery funded "World Class Start and Potential" Scheme. The Scheme is organised by the British Equestrian Federation and is designed to discover and develop the Olympic riders of the future.

The Jennie Loriston Clarke training session was part of the ongoing programme of development for the riders.

Explained Mr Somerset: "Georgina didn't get a fully funded place on the Scheme '” she just missed out '” but still has some assistance and training.

"Costs are high in this sport and you have to spend a great deal to succeed. The ferries over to Europe are expensive and you need a big horsebox to take the horse and all the gear, and live in for four days or more at a time while you are competing.

"So anything is a help. The training she's received on the Scheme so far has been incredible."

Georgina, who trains locally with senior dressage international Suzanne Davies, has also recently got another horse to aid her rise up the sport's steep ladder.

Continued Mr Somerset: "This is another stallion, a black 11-year-old who she hasn't yet started in competition. We are hoping he'll help her aim for the Junior & Young Rider British squads and hopefully eventually the Under-21 European Championship teams."