Eventer Emily King made her mark internationally as the highest-placed British rider and top-scoring female in her first-ever four-star competition, writes Eleanor Pipe.

The 19-year-old daughter of Olympic silver medallist Mary King made an ‘incredible’ debut as the youngest competitor in Les 4 Etoiles de Pau, France, in October, where she finished in fourth place overall.

The result rounded off a successful season for the rider, who also clinched a gold medal as part of the British Young Rider team at the FEI European Young Rider Championships.

Emily - who is based near Sidmouth - is now looking ahead to Badminton International Horse Trials next year where she will be eligible to compete for the first time with her top horse, Brookleigh.

Speaking from her Salcombe Regis home, Emily said: “It was my first four-star event and also a first for Brookleigh.

“We could not wait to go and do it but we were not sure how it was going to go.

“I was really pleased with his dressage, where he performed really well and also cross country – it is the biggest, the most technical and the longest course you can get.

“We went out quite confident and he really rose to the occasion in each phase.

“It was really great to come home with such a good result.”

Emily said her horses will now get a well-deserved holiday while she is heading to Germany to train and hone her skills before getting ‘back to action’ in the New Year.

Nina Lloyd Jones of the sport’s national governing body, British Eventing, said: “She was the highest placed Brit on her first ever four-star competition.

“This is an incredible feat, as not only is it the top level of the sport, but she is in her first year of being eligible to ride at this level.”