A LOCAL rider has been shortlisted for a scheme that identifies potential competitors for the Olympic Games.
One of Britain's most talented junior event riders, Sam Cutts, from Bere Ferrers, will compete in trials at the end of February.
Sam has been shortlisted for the World Class Start programme, a National Lottery funded scheme to find the country's top five three-day event riders who are most likely to make future Olympic Games.
Sam, who last year made the British team to ride in the Junior European Eventing Championship in the Czech Republic, will also be competing in British Young Riders' trials this season riding her horse Piccola Star and a new novice horse Jonny Bay.
She will be working in partnership with the Duchy College at Stoke Climsland for the 2004/5 season, receiving free use of all the college's equestrian facilities, including help and advice and weekly training with the instructors using Duchy College horses.
The partnership will help her focus her training and improve her performance during the forthcoming three-day eventing season.
During the past few months Sam has been working at the highly acclaimed Wiegersma Yard at Hatherleigh with top British event rider Lucy Wiegersma and in the autumn she is off to Cambridge University to study a degree in veterinary science.
The long-term ambitions of the former Devonport High School for Girls student are to become a vet, to compete at Badminton in 2006 and ride with the British senior eventing team in the 2012 Olympic Games.
If you wish to sponsor Sam please contact her on 07761 560863.