A TRIO of local riders made the line-up at the British Dressage Winter Championships in Solihull.

Riders have to qualify through various regional stages to make the championships.

Leading the local challenge was Broadway dressage international Peter Storr, who has previously come within a whisker of an Olympic team spot.

The 42-year-old was runner-up in the Event Insurance Services Intermediaire I Music Freestyle final, the highest level at the contest.

Storr rode Becky Whitcombe's German-bred chestnut mare Desiderata, who also won at the nationals in 2006.

"I haven't ridden the horse over the winter - Becky just brought her over to me a couple of times the month before the competition," said Peter. "I did the test for fun and she went very well - she's an outstanding, little mare."

Tenbury Wells' Kate Atlee was fourth in the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Music Freestyle championship.

Atlee, who represented Britain at under 21 European Championship level, rode 16.3hh chestnut horse Lochness and finished on 67.78 per cent.

The horse, owned by Great Witley's Sarah Outwin, was 10th in the Speedi-Beet Advanced Medium Winter final.

Bayton's Amy Blount competed in the Area Festival Finals for riders who have scored more than 60 per cent in competition at least twice and come through regional finals.

The 17-year-old finished equal first in the Petplan Equine Preliminary section on the rising nine-year-old bay Independent Missile.

"It was the horse's first time at the nationals which some can find stressful, but he likes being in the spotlight," said Amy's mother Cath Blount.

The pair were also fourth in the Novice Restricted Area Festival final and are though to the Summer Championship regional finals.

Meanwhile, there were 320 starters at the Clifton-on-Teme Pony Club Hunter Trials at Hilltop cross country course, Ledbury.

Clifton-on-Teme Pony Club's Fern Wrighton opened the event with a win in the mini novice junior section on Dylan with Worcester Pony Club's Lucinda White sixth. Worcester Riding Club's Stephen Mattick, of Malvern, just missed a win in the novice senior class on Donki-Oati.

Worcester Pony Club's Harriet Horsely-Gubbins and Lucinda White were third in the mini pairs, with Wyre Forest duo Zoe and Kirsty Hopkins in fourth.

Worcester rider Felicity Newland was fourth in the Intermediate section.

Two more home club riders, Katie Martin-Smith on Broadford Queen and Alex Moore on Herbie, were second and sixth in the intermediate and junior novice sections. Bewdley Bridle Club's Vicky Franklin took fifth spot in the open.

Next event at the venue is the North Herefordshire Hunt Hunter Trial on May 7.