A CRACKING cross-country and splendid show jumping round saw Selby rider Kate Lodge claim a superb 16th spot in the Bramham Horse Trials.

Riding 16-hand bay mare Port Welton, the 32-year-old from Cambleforth came through from a poor dressage opening to claim her fine finish - and a place at the next Badminton Horse Trials.

The highest placed 25 per cent of the 74 riders at the trials were granted qualification to three-day eventing's showcase event, and mother-of-two Lodge and 13-year-old Port Welton booked their tickets thanks to a superb last two days.

She said: "Port Welton was a bit nervous in her dressage and got a bit excited, and was only in 63rd place after that.

"However, she pulled up to 25th after the cross-country, after getting only 0.4 time penalties with a clear round. She then show jumped fantastically which put her to 16th place overall.

"She could have done even better but the dressage let her down. She can do a lot better than she did but the atmosphere got to her. However, she was fantastic during the cross-country and show jumping. We will now be going to Badminton next year, which is excellent."

Of the riders who finished ahead of Lodge, most are heading for the Olympics, which shows just how well she did. The overall winner was Australian Paul Tapner on Highpoint, with New Zealand's world champion Blyth Tait second on Chesterfield.