St Albans youngster Olivia Howeson, 12, topped the podium at the fifth annual Lowlands international ski race in Peer, Belgium.

The Samuel Ryder pupil was up against 300 of the best young skiers from Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, Holland and Luxembourg in the under-14 category.

But despite having only just moved up from the under-12 age group and dealing with a course change from small, softer ‘stubbie’ gates to full size gates, she exceeded all expectations.

After finishing second in the cup competition on the Saturday, Howeson won the Lowlands Championship trophy as the first placed under-14 skier in Sunday’s competition, which helped GB lift the Lowlands Nations Cup for the first time.

Dad Matt said: “It was an amazing achievement that bodes very well for the winter season, when Liv will spend a large part of her time training and being educated in Austria with Team Evolution Alpine Racing.”