The Duns joiner competed in the Nations Cup last week, the concluding highlight in the three-day event in Aachen, which saw each country represented by a male and female individual vaulter as well as a team.

Ross finished eleventh in the individual male competition, and his points, together with Joanne Eccles' (Britain's female vaulting star), and the English Vaulting Squad's, meant that Great Britain finished an impressive fifth place overall.

"Aachen was really good - it set me in good stead for the World Equestrian Games because it shows you how much work you still need to put in," Ross said on his return to Berwickshire this week.

"Aachen is the biggest non championship competition and it's always great to be there, it lets you see where you need to be."

The number one ranked male vaulter in the UK, Ross was named amongst the GB team last November for the World Equestrian Games, which take place in Lexington, Kentucky this autumn (September 25 - October 10).

The 23 year-old, who has held the titles of Scottish Champion (2006-2009) and British Champion (2005, 06, 08 and 09), will attend the prestigious Games as Britain's only solo male competitor, having competed as part of the GB team at the last WEGs in Aachen four years ago.

"The arena was huge and the atmosphere electrifying," he remembered.

"It was packed full for every performance, it made you give 200 per cent every time you stepped into that circle."

Competing this time as Britain's only male individual, Ross is looking forward to the challenge, despite the increased pressure.

"My aim is to finish in the top 10 in the world, but there's lots of training and bits and pieces to practise before then," he admitted.

And helping Ross perfect his sport this weekend will be the current world vaulting champion, Petr Eim from the Czech Republic.

"It will be great to have someone from the top level, someone who has been there and can tell you how he did it," Ross said.

"He knows what the judges are looking for, and will maybe see little things from an outside perspective that we don't see."

One of eight disciplines recognised by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), Equestrian Vaulting, defined as gymnastics on the back of a moving horse, is becoming an important part of the international scene.

The 2010 World Equestrian Games includes all eight disciplines, with a world champion crowned in dressage, eventing, show jumping, para-equestrian dressage, driving, endurance and reining, as well as vaulting.

Ross, who is currently fundraising to enable him to attend the Games, added: "I'd like to say thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored me so far."

With just over two months to go before the 2010 WEGs, Ross is busy trying to raise the daunting sum of £15,000, which he needs to get his horse to Kentucky, and as part of his fundraising efforts, Ross is holding a dance at Duns British Legion on Friday, August 13, and a race night, also in the Legion, on August 27.

Anyone wishing to help can find out more by visiting www.equibuddy.org or email magsfenner@aol.com