DORSET rider Flora Lickiss, from Wareham, enjoyed a flying start to her British eventing season when she took the top junior prize in the under-21 intermediate contest at Aldon in Yeovil.

The talented 17-year-old beat many of the country’s top young riders to finish in third place overall in the hotly-contested section.

Flora, sponsored by Anglotown Property Management, and her horse George V have enjoyed a successful three years at under-18 level.

Highlights included representing the South West twice at the Junior Championships held at Weston Park in Shropshire. She was also part of an international under-18 squad that travelled to Haras le Pin in France.

Reflecting on her Aldon success, Flora told the Daily Echo: “I was disappointed with our dressage score, but he (George V) was awesome in the cross country and flew round a very bold track and that lifted us up the placings.”