TEENAGER Claire Gallimore has secured a place at the National Championships after a fine performance competing with top professional riders. Claire, from St Albans, won the English BYRDS Home International Championships in July at Myerscough College

TEENAGER Claire Gallimore has secured a place at the National Championships after a fine performance competing with top professional riders.

Claire, from St Albans, won the English BYRDS Home International Championships in July at Myerscough College, Lancs. The five-day event involved four tests and Claire, aged 14, was placed in the top five in every test in the opening section which meant she was competing against riders up to the age of 25. Claire won the Individual Championship and also helped her team, Ferrari, to win the Team Championship by one point.

The 2007 Pony Talent Spotting Winner was the youngest member of her team and she will now go on to compete at Stoneleigh in September in the National Championships, featured on national television.

Claire is supported by the Elite Athlete Support Programme which provides athletes with a package of support services worth £1,000 free of charge. This includes training sessions, nutritional advice, physiotherapy, lifestyle management advice and free membership to the Hertfordshire Sports Village. The programme aims to help future Olympic stars reach their full potential. Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Herts Sports Partnership and the University of Hertfordshire are all joint partners. Claire's mum, Jane, said: "I am sure that the Elite Athlete Support Programme involvement has had a huge part to play in helping Claire achieve this fantastic opportunity to ride with and against the cream of British horses and riders at only the age of 14."

See the website www.sportinherts.org.uk to find out more about the athletes and developments on the Elite Athlete Support Programme.