Team GBR

An equestrian prodigy at a Derbyshire school has become one of the youngest ever riders selected to represent Britain at the Pony European Championships.
 
Erin Williams, 12, attends Mount St Mary’s College and is the youngest member of the British team by three years.
 
The team, made up of the best four riders in Britain under the age of 16, will compete against nations from across Europe at the Championships, which take place from 27 July to 1 August. 
 
Erin, who lives in Barlow, will attend team training camps with her German Pony Danny Boy B at the Kilbees Stud in Windsor before the championships, which this year take place at Bishop Burton College, in East Yorkshire. 
 
Erin will be accompanied at the Championships by her trainer Sonia Webster and the British trainer, Olympian Peter Storr.
 
She said: “I’m thrilled to be included in the British team and am looking forward to testing myself against the best riders in Europe.
 
“Being selected to represent my country is a real honour – it makes all the hard work this season well worth it.
 
“I am obviously a few years younger than the other team members but I am determined to ride as well as I can and gain as much from this fantastic experience as possible.”
 
Erin, who trains most mornings before school at 6.30am, rides dressage, one of the only sports where men, women and children all compete on an equal footing.
 
She was shortlisted for a place in the team after a string of impressive successes throughout the season. This included a bronze as part of the national team which finished third at France's premier dressage show, the Concours de Dressage International in Saumur.
 
Paul Scott, director of sport at Mount St Mary’s College, said: “This is the highest honour a pony rider can achieve and considering Erin’s age, it is an incredible achievement.
 
“Everyone at Mount St Mary’s will be rooting for Erin and we are sure she will do herself and the British team proud when she performs.”