ALL THEIR hard work throughout the year paid off for sisters Charlotte and Lorna Edmonds, who returned home from the European Dressage Championships armed with bronze medals.

The Jacobstowe girls, who are 19 and 15 respectively, scored so well in their individual events that their teams came in just behind the German and Dutch riders.

It's a double delight for the daughters of Helen Edmonds and TV celebrity Noel Edmonds and was the first time in the history of the sport that siblings had been selected to compete for Great Britain concurrently.

Olympic hopeful Charlotte was competing in the Young Rider Dressage contest in Rome while Lorna was taking part in the pony competition in Hagen in Germany.

The younger sister and her pony 'Manitu N' were the highest placed Great Britain combination, finishing in fifth position, mirroring the success of Charlotte who also took individual fifth in her section riding 'Broomfield Locarno'.

Naturally thrilled by their performance, the girls have also made their parents very proud.

Helen said it was wonderful: 'The girls were competing at the same time so we went to Germany with Lorna whilst keeping in touch with Charlotte by telephone.

'They were absolutely brilliant and they both had extreme weather to contend with where it was hot one day and thunderstorms the next.'

Between them the Edmonds girls have achieved five team bronze medals at the European Championships over the last few years.

'Their big ambition now is to get an individual medal but the sport is currently dominated by Germany because it is hugely popular out there,' added Helen.

'Lorna and Charlotte have another year in their age groups so they will keep trying.'

Mrs Edmonds said her daughters competed all over the country and hence the whole family spent a large amount of time travelling.

'After all the training before and after school and competing all through the year, a win like this makes it all worthwhile,' she said. 'Charlotte is a national champion at dressage and she is at the highest level of her training, but in this sport there is always something extra to aim for.'

The proud mother — who also has two other daughters, Olivia, 12 and Alice, 4, who are keen riders — said it was a great honour to represent your country and win a medal as a teenager.

'I think it is lovely for young people to be able to do a sport and make the most of their opportunities where they have them,' she added.

'The more you can achieve as a teenager the more confidence you have as you get older.'