MORE international recognition has come the way of young skier Natalia Harte.

The 12-year-old from Barham, near Canterbury, has been selected for the British Children’s Development squad and the English Schools Ski Association Squad.

She had already been chosen to represent Great Britain at an international race in Andorra.

Natalia, a pupil at Barton Court Grammar School, Canterbury, learned to ski from the age of two in her native Scotland.

She said she was suprised and overjoyed to be selected for the development squad, and added: “This is the next step in my dream to ski for Britain in the Olympics.”

Selection for the children’s squad is down to performance in snow races over the winter season and assessments by national coaches.

Natalia had a good season of results and, while skiing against older children in her age group, was regularly in the top three for her year group at the British Championships in Meribel.

She managed to excel at both and attained 53 points out of a maximum of 55 for the fitness assessment, being second top female in the country.

She trains at one of the top ski clubs in Great Britain, Sandown Park Ski Race Club, which is based in Esher, Surrey. She goes there twice a week for ski technique and does fitness training three times a week with her father, Martin, who was a member of a national racing ski squad in Scotland.

Natalia was a member of Barton Court’s dry slope team this year as they won the Kent Schools Under-16 mixed race.

Mr Harte said: “The school have been very supportive allowing her time off in the winter to go to races and training camps in Europe. They have been providing work for her to allow her to keep up the studies.”

Natalia has continued her success on the dry slope this summer, winning the English Grand Prix race series in her age group and, as a prize, will again ski with the the British Ski Academy based at Les Houches in France.

Ski shop Captain’s Cabin has helped with skiing equipment and sponsorship.

Mr Harte said: “This is great as the coming season is very busy for her, with races in Austria, Andorra, France plus all her training camps. But we need more sponsorship, including technical clothing, travel, equipment, you name it, if she is to succeed in her dream.”

He added that sponsorship was also needed for the British Children’s Squad, which aims to develop young talent to compete equally with other countries at international level but is mainly funded by parents and some commercial sponsorship.

Anyone willing to help may contact Martin Harte at 01227 831415.