ELITE international dressage rider Alice Oppenheimer has returned home victorious after representing Great Britain in Doha, Qatar.

The Four Marks-based Team GB member and her home-bred Headmore Delegate competed in the prestigious 2016 Chi Al Shaqab Five-Star International and wowed the crowd by winning the Grand Prix Special class with a superb score of 72.431, 5 per cent clear of her nearest rival, Marina Mattsson from Sweden.

Currently short-listed for the Rio Olympics in August, Oppenheimer, 26, hopes the success will increase her chance of selection, although no decision is expected for some time.

She was delighted with her horse’s performance in this top international fixture.

“It was one of the best competitions I’ve competed in and to win was just fantastic. I really couldn’t have asked for more from Del. We didn’t have the best result in the Grand Prix the day before. I think he was possibly saving the best until last.

“It really was an amazing experience, from our first flight with Del to hearing the national anthem play out during the prize-giving. It was very special and I feel so privileged to have been part of it.”

On returning to the UK, Alice had more good news. Both Del and Headmore Boadicia (‘Bracks’) have been selected to compete at the CDI Keysoe competition in Bedfordshire next month.

It is a first international Grand Prix call-up for Bracks, giving Alice two horses competing at this level.

Alice Oppenheimer, who is on the Lottery-funded World Class Podium Potential Squad, breeds and trains her horses at the family stud in Four Marks, near Alton.