Eventing: Flora's French visit with the best of British (From Bournemouth Echo)

Eventing: Flora's French visit with the best of British

7:00am Friday 9th November 2012 in Youth Sport By Echo Reporter

EVENTING prospect Flora Lickiss represented Great Britain in an international tournament in France.

The 16-year-old Dorset star was one of only 12 riders to be selected for the British eventing under-18 development squad.

Flora rubbed shoulders with some of the sport’s top riders including Olympic gold medallist Michael Jung at the Haras le Pin event in Normandy.

There were 180 competitors from all over the world, with Flora finishing in 57th position.

She was the sixth highest placed British rider in an event the under-18 selectors use to give junior riders the experience of competing abroad.

Flora, who lives at East Stoke, near Wareham, was 27th after the dressage and went clear in the cross country.

Unfortunately two fences down in the show jumping proved costly for Flora’s hopes of a top-30 finish.

Flora has enjoyed a successful year which has seen her selected for the South West team for a second successive season.

The South West team finished fifth in the Under-18 Championships at Weston Park.

Next year, Flora has qualified for the Junior European Selection Trials and will spend the winter in training.

Her horse for the past two years, George V, is a 15.2hh nine-year-old coloured gelding.