YORKSHIRE rider Kristina Hall-Jackson has been named on Team GB for Junior Europeans at Bishop Burton College next week.

Kristina, who will be competing alongside Emily King, will be riding Lemington Lets Dance, owned by Judy Bradwall.

Kristina has not had the easiest of seasons. She took a fall at the beginning of the year, twisting her knee. Reluctant to see a doctor, she eventually ended up having emergency keyhole surgery once it was discovered that she had snapped her anterior cruciate ligament.

Within three weeks of the operation, she was competing at Lincolnshire Horse Trials and has opted to delay reconstructive surgery until the autumn.

“At the start of the season I never thought I'd be where I am now,” said Kristina. “I'm forever thankful to Judy for giving me the ride; he's feisty and I had to get used to him, but he has done so much for me. It's amazing, all my dreams have come true, although I feel gutted for those not selected. I'm just lucky that, according to the doctors, one of the few sports I could have done with my injury is riding... it doesn't even hurt.”

Emily King has also selected for Team GB. For Emily, who looks set to become as well known as her mother, Mary, it is a fourth junior championship appearance.

Already a full-time professional rider having left school at 16, Emily is in the enviable position of having two horses listed for the squad; Parone Cjaval's 12-year-old Brookleigh, on whom Emily finished runner-up at last autumn's Young Rider CCI2* competition, and Gabriella Atkinson's mare, Walitze F Vejgard, who placed third at the Young Rider CCI2* at Tattersalls in May.

“I'm very lucky that both have gone so well,” said Emily. “Having performed at a higher level than at the Europeans [which runs at CCI1*] I'm hoping that there will be less pressure on both me and whichever horse is selected than there was when I first made the junior squad as a 15 year old. I certainly don't think I'll be as nervous, knowing how it all works.”

As part of the European Junior Championships competitors from 17 countries all over Europe will be participating in the cross-country phase of the event which is being hosted by the college from tomorrow (Thursday) to Sunday. The cross-country is the second stage of the competition and the purpose-built course at Bishop Burton will prove both exciting and challenging for horse and rider.

As well as the main equestrian event on Saturday, visitors will be able enjoy lots family-orientated activities and displays, including a dog show, bouncy castles, children’s activities and farm machinery.

The newly redesigned walled garden will also be open for visitors to browse with tours conducted by the college’s gardening team during the day.

Equine displays will be taking place in the Olympic-standard Bishop Burton arena.

The gates open at 10.30am and admission is £10 per car.