FOUR girls from the Forest will be taking on the best amateur riders in the country in the National Clubs' Championship this weekend.

They might be going as underdogs, but they're determined to put their Forest club on the eventing map.

The girls will be sleeping in tents and caravans while their horses have the best possible three star stable accommodation at the Aston-le-Walls venue in Northamptonshire.

Kelly Salter from Littledean, Rachel Tippins from Coleford and Newent pair Kathy Goulding and Sarah Heathfield beat nine other clubs to win the area qualifier in Worcestershire.

Raising the money just to take their rightful place in the prestigious final was their first big obstacle.

Rachel, a paramedic by day, said: "We organised a show at Speech House to raise money and the support we got was fantastic – I think we made about £800.

"Everyone is right behind us and it means a lot. It's the first time a team from the Forest has got this far. It's a really good achievement just to qualify."

Rachel has been riding since she was young and currently has eight horses. She'll be competing on Ryan's Spot in the final.

Kelly, a sonographer at Gloucester-

shire Royal Hospital, added: "It's probably the biggest competition each of us have been involved in. We'll be up against the best clubs in the country but we want to win."

The competition is a true test of versatility and fitness, for both horse and rider.

On Saturday, the girls will take part in dressage and show jumping.

On Sunday they must compete in a 2.6km road & track event, steeplechasing and cross-country.