HANNAH Biggs, a leading dressage rider from Gillingham, has been selected on to the 2014-2016 UK Sport National Lottery-funded World Class Development Programme.

With selection across each of the three Olympic sports – dressage, eventing and showjumping and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage, this year has seen one of the largest intakes since the British Eques-trian Federation’s programme’s inception, as the young athletes get on board ahead of the 2015 season.

The programme looks to provide coaching and support to athletes – through human and equine sports science, nutrition and sports psychology – as part of an established training pathway.

Gordon Burton, head of performance for the BEF said: “This year’s applicants raised the bar yet again and we saw some exceptional talent coming forward during our selection trials.

“It is great to see such a depth and breadth of ability coming up through the ranks and it bodes well for the future of equestrian sport in the UK.”