WEST Littleton eventer Harry Meade is aiming to get back up to speed as soon as possible as he looks to put last year’s injury problems behind him.

The 30-year-old, a member of British Eventing’s World class development squad, spent around five months recuperating after breaking and dislocating both of his elbows in a hefty fall at last August’s Wellington Horse Trials.

Meade, who has was picked as part of the British squad for this year’s Nations Cup series last month, was back among the placings at last weekend’s Gatcombe Horse Trials in Gloucestershire.

He guided Vrolijk and Tall Story to second spots in the intermediate novice and open novice sections respectively. Wild Lone was third in the advanced intermediate category.

“It’s been difficult because I had such a long time away from it but hopefully I’m getting back to being fully fit,” said Meade, who returned to riding in January.

“I’ve taken on a few less horses so far this year just to ease myself back in, so we’ll see how that goes.

“I’ve been to a few training camps in the last few months with the British world class programme and I’m really just looking to get myself ready for Badminton (in May) – that’s the first big international of the year.”

Meade was thankful that his arms healed quickly enough for him to perform some emergency midwifery in January.

Wife Rosie went into labour with the couple’s second child in January and Meade was forced to deliver son Charlie on his own.

He said: “It’s not the kind of thing that you expect to have to do yourself but thankfully everything went well and we’ve got a healthy little boy.”

Laura Collett, now based in Lambourn after her move from the Membury Estate, claimed a novice section C win on Pamero 4 at Gatcombe.

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