Izzy Picton-Turbervill

A MEMBER of the Saffron Walden and District Riding Club has taken a step towards the Olympics in Rio after being named in the Team GB squad.

Izzy Picton-Turbervill, from Chrishall, was one of a squad of British riders competing at the French three-day event at Haras du Pin in Normandy last week.

The first phase of the competition was dressage in which she scored 49 points – only 15 behind the leader, Olympic champion Michael Jung. The second phase was show jumping before the cross country, in which Picton-Turbervill went clear within the time allowed across a technically challenging course.

One of the youngest in the competition at 15-years-old, Picton-Turbervill and her horse Bantry Flipper were one of the highest placed British junior riders, and finished in the top third of the class, which included many world class riders.

It was her first competition at this level and she was “delighted” to complete the event successfully and enjoyed wearing top hat and tails for the first time in the dressage element of the competition and to have the honour of competing wearing Union Jacks.

She has been riding since the age of three and won the national schools show jumping title for The Perse last winter.