Abingdon para-equestrian dressage rider Molly Bowen-Morris has been handed a prestigious spot on the 2015 Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport programme.

Bowen-Morris is in world class-company on the programme, with the likes of Jade Jones, who won gold at the Olympic Games in 2012 in London in taekwondo, one of the first recipients of an Academy of Sport bursary back in 2010.

The 16-year-old, who was the 2014 British Dressage Young Para-Rider Development champion, attended the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials where she got to rub shoulders with London 2012 silver medallist Zara Phillips and walk the course with Captain Mark Phillips.

Just 276 star athletes have been awarded with an academy bursary since 2010, with 35 per cent of Jaguar Land Rover Academy alumni progressing to professional or world-class funding level – which demonstrates the potential of St Helen and St Katharine School’s Bowen-Morris in the years ahead.

Molly said: “It was really great to see Zara Phillips at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

"She was really inspirational and it’s really good to meet someone who’s been there and done it."

 Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport rising star rugby athlete Marcus Street was invited to Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials to meet with ambassador Zara Phillips for an exclusive mentoring Q&A. For more information on the Academy visit sportsaid.org.uk