FIFTEEN-year-old Chelsea Pearce from Marlborough has retained her place on the Charles Owen British Pony squad and will represent Great Britain at this summer's Pony European Eventing Championships, to be held at Millstreet, Ireland from July 30-August 3.

Pearce competed at last year's Championships with the pony team stalwart Catherston Nutsafe, finishing 15th. This year she has been listed with both Catherston Nutsafe and her less experienced Little Indian Feather.

It will be Catherston Nutsafe's fifth appearance at a Pony European Championship but her stablemate Little Indian Feather has also been on great form this season, winning a qualifier at Salperton Park and finishing third at the final trial at Barbury Castle, where the event was won by Catherston Nutsafe.

“I did have a scare when I couldn't complete the National Pony Championships at Brand Hall with either of the ponies – they had lost shoes on the cross country course and weren't feeling quite right. Fortunately Salperton and Barbury went well,” said Pearce.

“It's such a buzz to represent your country, I'm easily as excited as I was last year. I also learnt a lot last year and am definitely going to Ireland looking to bring home a medal.”