BADMINTON-BASED Alicia Hawker aims to make her dreams come true with a debut appearance at the world famous Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials next May.

Based a stone's throw away from the birth place of eventing, Hawker,23, is accepted into the prestigious event riding Mr Robert Hawker’s Charles RR.

With a combined age of only 33, an age significantly younger than most of the riders, the pair head to Badminton following a successful 2017 season, which culminated in a first CCI**** completion at Les Etoiles De Pau in the South of France last October.

“Badminton has always been special as it is so local to us. I’ve gone to watch every year since I was old enough.” said Hawker.

Like many British Eventing competitors this season, Alicia and Charles’ preparation for the ‘world’s premier 3-day-event’ has been less than ideal. To date they have only completed the Open Intermediate at Tweseldown due to numerous cancellations. The pair had planned to compete at The Barefoot Estates Burnham Market International, across the Easter weekend, however after producing a personal best in the CIC*** dressage (36.3) the event was abandoned ahead of the jumping phases. The only remaining preparation run will come at Belton International Horse Trials, in Lincolnshire, on the 14th April, just 3-weeks before the main event.

“Training at home is going well, unfortunately rain has meant 2 out of 3 of our prep runs so far have been cancelled. We’ve got everything crossed the rain stays away and we can go to Belton this weekend. Charlie’s final prep will include some physio sessions, his last fitness prep on the gallops and training with coaches Mark Todd and Rhian Jones.”

Alicia was the 2017 winner of the Mark Todd Bridging The Gap Scholarship, a support package supported by eventing icon Sir Mark Todd and British Eventing.

Followers can stay up to date with Alicia’s 4 star journey via her Facebook page - @AliciaHawkerEventing