A TEAM of riders from the Lakes Riding Club flew the flag for Great Britain at a major showjumping meeting in France.

The annual World Club Tournament in Lamotte Beuvron, in the Loire region, is described as the largest equestrian event in the world, and takes place over three days.

The Lakes Riding Club team comprised Helen Westmoreland-Nicholson, Sarah Rowlinson and junior members Robyn Bowness and Charlotte Salisbury, with their coach Jannet Bowness.

They competed over three rounds against 13 other teams including Morocco, India, Thailand, China, Australia, Mauritius, France, Belgium, Italy and Turkey.

Riding in excessive heat, some times in temperatures approaching 38 degrees, the riders and their horses - Coco, Max, Apollo and Bracken - performed "superbly" against high-quality opposition, finishing in mid table.

The riders said they were grateful to the sponsors and donors who made the journey possible, and they felt "extremely proud to represent Great Britain and the Lakes Riding Club on the world stage".

The Lakes Riding Club club is based at the county showground at Crooklands. Its team qualified to represent GB by winning the British Riding Club's national 100cm showjumping title last year.