WILTSHIRE eventer Tom McEwen has been selected to represent Great Britain in the KBIS Young Rider Team at the European Championships in Sweden.

This year the annual competition will be held at Malmö City Horse Trials (August 9-12).

Following his successful final trial at Aston le Walls earlier this month, Tom will ride eight-year-old DH Lupison in the six-strong squad.

Great Britain has won the team gold for the last seven years.

The event is for young riders aged 19-21 and runs at a CCI2* level, meaning it is an excellent showcase for upcoming talent.

This year's Team GB Olympic eventers include three former Young Rider medallists: Zara Phillips, Tina Cook and William Fox-Pitt.

OLYMPIC selectors are predicting that Great Britain will clinch team gold at the Olympic dressage contest in two weeks.

After Charlotte Dujardin, from Newent, set a record-breaking score of 90.65% earlier this season, pundits have predicted that she will take the coveted gold medal along with the rest of the 'Gloucestershire Dream Team' - mentor Carl Hester, also from Newent, and Laura Bechtolsheimer, from Ampney St Peter.

Since the withdrawal of Matthias Rath and dressage wonder horse Totilas, Team GB have replaced Germany as gold medal favourites.

DESPITE the cancellation of both the Badminton Horse Trials and the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, there is still plenty of top class equestrian sport ahead.

After the Olympics, one of the highlights will be the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Stamford, Lincolnshire (August 30 to September 2) when some of the world's finest horses and riders compete for the Land Rover Perpetual Challenge Trophy and a first prize of £55,000.

The competition starts with two days of dressage in the main arena on the Thursday.

On the Friday, Ring 2 plays host to the popular Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals. Now as much a part of Burghley as the horse trials, these finals are the culmination of 20 national qualifying competitions.

Saturday is cross country day when 80 horse and rider combinations will test their mettle over the famous Burghley fences and the competition comes to its climax with show jumping on Sunday to determine who will carry home the Land Rover Perpetual Challenge Trophy.

Burghley, of course, is also renowned for its shopping. More than 500 selected trade stands, seven specialist pavilions and the Burghley Food Walk offer an unrivalled opportunity for a spending spree.

Discounted advance tickets are available until mid-August and can be purchased either by phone on 01933 304744 or online at www.burghley-horse.co.uk.