YOUNG showjumper Gemma Cranton has made a welcome return to the saddle and earned herself a senior place at Wembley's prestigious Horse of the Year Show.

Having spent most of the winter unable to ride due to foot-and-mouth restrictions, the Great Britain under-21 rider was delighted to earn a place in the Young Riders Championship at the Horse of the Year Show in early October.

But for the Usk rider, the icing on the cake came last Saturday afternoon at the Three Counties Show in Malvern where she was competing against the very best senior British riders when she surprised herself by qualifying for the elite Daewoo Grand Prix, also to be held at Wembley.

To demonstrate how well she has done, Cranton's name will be alongside former Olympians John Whitaker and Robert Smith as she finished fourth to take her place at Wembley.

Cranton is understandably ecstatic as her horse, Celtic Manor Euphoria USA, was a relative novice when she took over the ride just a year ago.

"I am delighted," said the 20-year-old. "I only took part (in the Daewoo qualifier) for the experience and didn't expect to qualify. It was fantastic to find out I had got a place. "It is beyond anything I have done before and it is because the horse rode so well. She really is going from strength to strength."

The timings of the events are in Cranton's favour as she will ride on Wednesday night of the October show in the junior event, before stepping up to the senior event the following evening.

The weekend's success comes on the back of some more good news for Cranton, who took third place on Euphoria at the Senior Area International Trial in Heckington, as well as doing well at the Manchester 2001 show.

Cranton has also picked up valuable points in the country's highest league to help her qualify for the highly prestigious Queen Elizabeth II final at the Royal International at Hickstead next year.