SHREWTON-based Amber O’Neill has been selected for the English Carriage Driving team to take part in this summer’s Junior World Trophy event in Hungary. 

The 16-year-old, who has been driving for eight years, won an individual dressage silver medal at the event in 2008 but hopes to go one better at this August’s competition in Vecses, where around 130 drivers from ten countries will compete. 

Amber and her pony Fortune Teller, have attended numerous British Young Drivers training camps over the past year in readiness for this summer’s contest and regularly take on more senior drivers.

“The training is fun because you get to meet up with all your carriage driving friends without the pressure of competition,” said Amber.  

“Young drivers are spread all over the country so I regularly compete against adults at local events. Some of them get a bit annoyed when the juniors beat them!"

Amber’s mum, Emma, who is also her groom at the competitions, said:  “Hungarians are very enthusiastic about horse sports in general and carriage driving in particular. 

“The event will attract noisy crowds and there will be a great atmosphere. This is a great family sport and each competitor needs a great team around them so all the family can get involved.”