OLYMPIC bronze medallist David Broome and his family have the final go-ahead to create a world-class £250,000 equestrian centre at their home near Caldicot.

Three generations of the Broome family are involved in the project at Mount Ballan Manor, Crick, which it is hoped will nurture Britain's next generation of equestrian superstars.

The Sports Council for Wales' Sportlot fund has awarded the David Broome Event Centre a grant of £125,000 to build Britain's first truly all-weather outdoor arena.

The family say there are various sources for the rest of the funding, including a loan from the British Showjumping Association.

The facility, which will be ready by next spring, will measure 7,200 square metres - enough for three international dressage rings plus a warm-up area.

Wales currently has no permanent or high-quality dressage facilities. "This is a major breakthrough for equestrian sport in Wales and Great Britain," says David Broome's eldest son, 24-year-old James, who took more than a year to negotiate the grant.

"We have been granted planning permission. Now all we are waiting for is three weeks of fine weather to make a start."

The venture is definitely a family affair, with Milly Broome, aged 89, supporting her sons, David and Fred, and David's three sons, James, Matthew and Richard, and their mother, Liz.

"This is going to make a tremendous difference and take equestrianism into a new era.

"We will be able to use the ring every day, regardless of the weather," said David, a former world champion, who won two Olympic bronze medals and the prestigious King George V event a record six times.

David and other members of the family put that experience to good use by providing quality coaching from grassroots level to international performers.

The new arena will enable them to offer enhanced training all year round to far greater numbers.

"At present the vast majority of showjumpers practise over two or three jumps and are then expected to perform over a full course of jumps against the clock in competitions," explained David.

"It means riders rarely train properly for the task. The new ring will enable them to train over a full set of jumps and learn how to cope with the technical challenges that course builders present them with."

Among those who will benefit from the facility are David's son, Matthew, 20, and his brother Fred's daughter, Sophie Broome, 15. Matthew is a talented showjumper in his own right and Sophie is also shaping up to carry the family name onto the international stage.