MEMBERS of a Kent family are making a bid to represent Great Britain in the next Olympic Games.

Horse-lovers Francesca Sternberg, her sister Rosanne, and husband Douglas Allen, from Sandhurst, travelled to Jerez in Spain last month for the World Equestrian Games and came fifth in the world in their discipline - rein riding.

The International Olympics Committee is currently considering whether to add rein-riding as a new discipline at the next Olympics in Athens in 2004.

A decision is expected within a few weeks, and if the answer is yes, then the Sternbregs and fellow team-mate Bob Mayhew from West Sussex, will represent Great Britain

The World Equestrian Games is the biggest horse show in the world and the Sternberg family competed in front of a crowd of 40,000 to secure fifth place against 19 other countries.

Francesca Sternbreg said: “Rein-riding is an exciting sport. We wear cowboy garb and it’s a real thrill for the spectators.” The entrants compete on American quarter horses to find the fastest horses over a quarter-mile distance.

The USA took first place at the Games, with Canada second and Italy third.