Brecon para carriage driver Emily Ham is set to represent Britain at the World Para Driving Championships after securing the title of Reserve National Champion in her final selection event.

Competing in the prestigious National Paradrivers Championships at Glebe House, West Grinstead, Emily impressed across two days of top-level competition. The event began with dressage and cones driving, before moving on to the challenging marathon phase on day two.

Seven drivers, all members of the British squad, took part - with the cones course proving decisive early on. Emily delivered one of only two double clear rounds, completing the long and twisty course eight seconds under the allowed time with no penalties. Her strong start placed her second overnight, and she went on to produce a determined marathon performance, recording three of the fastest times in the six obstacles to secure the Reserve Champion spot.

Emily, who drives her 24-year-old Welsh cob Alfie, said she was thrilled with her pony’s performance.

“Alfie was amazing! He is so agile and loves the cones and obstacles,” she told the Brecon & Radnor Express.

“He rose heroically to the big occasion on the marathon after we unintentionally went off course between markers and added a lot of extra distance to an already demanding 13km route. From three seconds up we were down on time as a result of this, and had to canter the last kilometre in the carriage when normally we get round Section A at his big cob trot. It didn't phase him at all and he immediately put in the fastest time in our class in the big first obstacle. He was also fastest on the final water obstacle - proving what an amazing athlete he is!”

The organisers of the event were praised for putting on a special competition with carefully designed, challenging courses and plenty of entertainment. Period carriages and luxury classic cars were displayed alongside the cones course - including, to the surprise of many, a £2 million Bugatti Veyron.

Emily received her awards from National Championship hostess Jane Robinson and FEI dressage judge James Rooney.

This latest success rounds off a remarkable season for Emily and Alfie, which began with victory in the indoor national finals for the drivers with disabilities class in April. Emily has since claimed podium finishes at major national events in Chepstow, Sandringham, and Glebe, as well as a Reserve Champion title at the Certius Short Format Finals in July.

Emily will now focus on final preparations for the FEI Para Driving World Championship in Lähden, Germany, which are scheduled to take place from September 4 to 7.

The team is now busy with both training and preparations, with the big journey to Germany just a couple of weeks away.

“I am so excited as we prepare to go to Germany for the World Championships! A few weeks to finalise all our preparations and then my Welsh cob, Alfie, will be performing to try for another medal to match his 2023 success,” said Emily.