EAST Grimstead’s Alice Loten will be waving the Great Britain flag when she competes at a horse riding event in Italy.

The 21-year-old, and her horse Warrens Hill Kizmet, have already set off for Verona to take part in the European FEI Endurance Championships for Young Riders on Saturday.

The 124k race consists of competitors doing five loops of various lengths through Parco di Pontoncello in temperatures of about 31 degrees.

After a loop is completed, each horse is subjected to a thorough veterinary inspection to ensure that it’s fit to continue in the race.

Loten, who will be amid 71 starters from 16 different countries aiming for gold, has been competing in endurance for the past nine years. Her biggest achievement to date is winning the Young Rider National Championships at the King's Forest ride last year.