BROTHER-and-sister Harry and Scarlett Charles, from Bentworth near Alton, both returned from the Junior European Championships in Samorin, Slovakia with silver medals.

Representing Team NAF GB Juniors U18s, both collected team silvers, while Harry won an individual silver medal.

The team event was incredibly long and hard-fought, with 23 teams taking part.

The Team GB U18 team comprised Harry and Scarlett Charles, Robert Murphy (Preston) and Jack Whitaker (Whatton).

The riders all delivered from the outset under the guidance of Chef D’Equipe Tony Newbery. GB were in the silver medal position at the halfway stage and never faltered as the competition progressed.

Italy jumped clear in the final round to ensure the gold medals, with Great Britain retaining silver and Germany taking bronze.

Harry was then one of 120 junior riders who contested the individual competition over three days, with scores from the team event also counting.

From the point of being selected, his aim was to win team and individual medals and his determination never wavered as he did just that.

Riding his father Peter’s 12-year-old gelding, Vivaldi Du Dom (aka Elvis), he was the leading British rider from the start as he posted a superb clear on the first day, followed by two rounds on the Friday which saw him pick up just one time penalty.

Going through to the final on the Sunday, he held third place.

Harry, who has already achieved considerable success on the senior international circuit, delivered two foot-perfect clears which were enough to push him into the silver medal position behind Rowen Van de Mheen of the Netherlands.

After riding one of only three double clears in the final, Harry Charles said: “We went so close to winning. One time fault cost us the gold medal, but I’m still happy to have won silver. It’s not easy to win a medal at these European Championships.”