BARNT Green ski star Siena Horton could do little to hide her beaming smile after securing a silver medal at the Delancey British Children’s Championships in Tignes last week.

Taking place from April 3-7, the Delancey British Children’s Championships welcomed almost 300 of Britain’s most talented young skiers to the slopes of the French Alps.

In Monday’s Under-16 Slalom, 14-year-old Horton clocked a combined time of 1.43.45 to take her place on the podium, just 0.19 seconds slower than the title-winning time set by champion Daisi Daniels.

It proved to be Horton’s only podium of the Championships, with fourth and fifth place finishes in the Giant Slalom and Super G respectively, missing out on a medal in the former by 1.38.

But that’s not to say the Bromsgrove School pupil was disappointed with her efforts on the piste, despite the nerves that kicked in at the start gate.

“I’m happy with my performance, I think it went really well. My first run wasn’t great but my second run was quite solid so I’m happy with how it ended,” she said after her Slalom success.

“I felt really good coming down the piste. I was quite nervous in my first run, as I always am, but I felt that I really grew with confidence as I went on.

“I was both excited and nervous coming into the race. I tend to get quite nervous about everything.

“My teammates and I really help each other out and bring each other through the nerves.

“I’m so happy to get on the podium at the Championships. It was an aim of mine so it feels really good.”

With the curtains having fallen on a successful season on the slopes, Horton insists she can look back on her achievements this winter with pride.

And she insists there is nowhere she’d rather finish the campaign than with the best of British in Tignes.

“I love going to the British Championships, it’s such a lovely atmosphere and we always have great weather,” she said.

“This is my third year coming here, I won gold and silver last year and I won the overall title the year before.

“It’s been a good season. I had a really tough start because I didn’t ski very well, but then I skied well at the English Championships, so I’ve been growing in confidence as the season has gone on.”

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