LUCINDA Green, probably the world's greatest event rider, is holding a clinic at Hilltop Cross Country Course, Ledbury.

It will be a wonderful opportunity for riders from Worcestershire and Herefordshire to tap into the talent that saw Lucinda acclaimed world eventing champion in 1982 and win Badminton six times on six different horses - Be Fair 1973, Wideawake 1976, George 1977, Killaire 1979, Regal Realm 1983 and Beagle Bay in 1984.

The Most Improved Rider Clinic is due to take place on Thursday, August 28, and riders wanting to take part are being urged to book as soon as possible.

Veronica Bickam, who owns the course, explained that a clinic held by Lucinda in May was over-subscribed even after she agreed to do extra classes.

Riders have been offered a place in the August clinic instead and she has also agreed to do another one in September.

Local rider Jessica Schleider, who lives at Marden, near Leominster, was lucky enough to win a prize and signed certificate from Lucinda at the May clinic.

"I nearly fainted when I heard - this sort of thing just doesn't happen to me," said Jessica, who had a difficult time at college when perfecting her riding and horsemanship skills following a fall in her second year, which left her very stiff.

She was put back down in her first year group and failed her Stage 2 exam twice due to her stiffness before passing it at the third attempt.

In her third year at college, Jessica was put into the second year group and failed her Stage 3 exam.

Since leaving college she has passed all the stages of her Stage 3 exam which includes flat work, showjumping and cross country - but not on the same day so she technically failed as all three stages have to be passed on the same day.

Her present employer brought her to the Lucinda Green Clinic where the expert told Jessica all she lacked was confidence.

Lucinda has represented Great Britain abroad consistently, since she first joined the Senior British Team at the 1973 European Championships at Kiev.

In 1975 and 1977, Lucinda became the European Champion whilst riding Be Fair and George respectively. Be Fair had slipped his Achilles tendon in the 1976 Montreal Olympics after completing the cross country course and was subsequently retired.

In the alternative at Fontainbleu in 1980, she rose from 69th to 7th position by virtue of a brilliant cross country round, her specialist phase. Later in the year, Lucinda went to Australia and won the Melbourne Three Day Novice and Open Classes riding borrowed horses.

The following year she won Burghley and was subsequently short-listed for the European Championships.

In 1982, Lucinda became the world champion of eventing and was a member of the gold medal winning British team at the Luhmuhlem World Championships. She went on to win the individual silver medal and team silver medal at the European Championships in Switzerland.

1984 proved to be another spectacular year when Lucinda won Badminton and was also placed fifth.

Following this success, she was selected for the Los Angeles Olympic Games where she carried the flag at the head of the British contingent at the opening ceremony and helped Britain win the Olympic team silver medal whilst individually being placed sixth.

Lucinda has also won the Tony Collins Memorial Trophy an unprecedented seven times, a trophy awarded to the British rider with the most eventing points in a season.

In 1985, upon the birth of her first child, she retired temporarily from international competition.

Lucinda was shortlisted for the British team at the World Championships in Australia in May 1986, although she had to withdraw due to the unsoundness of her horse. In the autumn, Lucinda confirmed her world class form by winning Europe's most prestigious event at Boekelo.

In 1987, she was a member of the British team at the European Championships at Luhmuhlen, Germany. During the Olympic Games at Seoul in 1988 she commentated for the BBC on the three day competition.

When she retired from team competitions in 1988, Lucinda began conducting clinics around the world, espousing cross country riding the safe way.

She is a member of the Board of Directors of the British Horse Trials Association, a team selector and team cross country clinician.

- If you are interested in attending the clinic at Hilltop contact Jo Short on 01684 592792 or click on to www.hilltopxcledbury.co.uk