EVENTING star Karen Dixon has been chosen to compete in this year's Olympic Games in Sydney.

Mrs Dixon, whose home is near Barnard Castle, took third place in a three day event at Gatcombe Park at the weekend on Too Smart, putting in a performance which obviously impressed the selectors.

She first competed at the Olympics in Seoul in 1988, where, as the youngest rider, she helped the British team to a silver medal on her mother Elaine Straker's horse Get Smart.

She was the highest-placed British rider at both the Barcelona and Atlanta Games and also won an individual bronze medal at the world championships in the Hague.

Following her success at Gatcombe, Mrs Dixon told the D&S Times that she was delighted to have been chosen to take part in the Olympics again and was obviously hoping to do well.