Badminton hero Tapner heading for Chatsworth

Other leading British and international riders who have entered include Zara Phillips, Andrew Nicholson, William Fox-Pitt, Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks, Mark Todd and Ruth Edge.

Oliver Townend has had to withdraw his horses as he is still recovering from the crashing fall he took on the cross-country course in Kentucky.

The focal point of the weekend at Chatsworth will be the HSBC FEI World Cup class with the finale, the show-jumping phase, being held in the main arena on the Sunday afternoon.

The parkland at Chatsworth provides a spectacular setting for the event and this year the cross-country course has been designed by the former Olympic and European medallist Ian Stark.

Paul Tapner grew up in Sydney and has been based in the UK for over 10 years.

He won Bramham Horse Trials in 2000 but it has always been his ambition to win at Badminton and this year, with Inonothing on such good form, there was no stopping him.

"As soon as I first started eventing, Badminton has been my aim. It doesn't get much better than this," said a thrilled Tapner.

Yorkshire's Nicola Wilson finished in the top 10 in eighth place and said she was delighted with how Opposition Buzz had gone.

"It was lovely to finish in the top 10 and on his dressage score," said Wilson. "He's never particularly strong in the dressage phase and this was probably his best test to date. The cross-country was a true four-star test. I thought there would be lots of problems throughout and, of course, we had rain the night before. I hoped we would go well and he gave me a fabulous ride to finish so well."

Wilson has entered another horse bred by Rosemary Search, Be Diplomatic along with Chris Bartle's Ballyengland Rebel for Chatsworth Horse Trials.

This year's Badminton was a special occasion for the amateur riders who had qualified for the Mitsubishi Grassroots BE90 and BE100 Championships.

These were run alongside the main event for the first time.

Among the competitors was Deirdre Johnston, whose husband is the Middleham trainer Mark Johnston.

"It was fantastic and to ride round that parkland cross- country was just brilliant," said Deirdre.

Riding her horse County Hot Shot, Deirdre was lying second in the dressage out of 70 starters but then had a jump down in the show-jumping.

"That cost me the competition but we had a super clear cross-country and finished sixth. The horse was brilliant and it was a fantastic experience," said Deirdre.

There was a prize-giving in the main arena in front of an enthusiastic crowd for the top 10 to finish. Cambridge university veterinary student Jack Day from Leicestershire took the BE 100 title and the BE 90 champion was Amy Dixon from Cumbria.

Deirdre Johnston went straight to join the rest of the family at Newmarket where Awzaan, the racehorse she rides out every day, was the third favourite in the 2,000 Guineas. Awzaan was not on winning form but the yard notched up several winners over the weekend.

Getting message across online

THE Cleveland Bay Horse Society (CBHS) has updated and relaunched its website (www.clevelandbay.com).

As well as providing information about the CBHS and the breed, the website also enables people to shop online for Cleveland Bay merchandise or to make a donation to the Society – a registered charity.

All the latest CBHS news, photographs and information about shows that have Cleveland Bay classes is included. There is also a "for sale" page where pure and part-bred Clevelands can be advertised.

THE recently established Brimham Riding Club, which covers Ripon and Nidderdale, has also launched a website, www.brimhamridingclub.co.uk. It details events that are coming up and also has information about how to join.

The next members' meeting is an "open house" to be held at 7.0pm on May 21 at Studley Royal Cricket Club in Ripon. Anybody who is interested in joining the club is welcome to go along and there will also be a quiz. For more information call Lynne on 01423 714010.

A hog roast organised by the Yorkshire Sport Horse committee heralds the start of the showing season and gives breeders, producers and owners a chance to catch up. It is being held at Thornton Lodge, Easingwold on May 21 (15).

The summer show is at the Barugh, Carlton Husthwaite, Thirsk on June 16. New classes include a hunter mare class and a Winergy Equilibrium Flat Ridden Sport Horse for for four, five and six-year-olds. Schedules are available online at www.yorkshiresporthorse.com or from organiser Kim Beaumont on 01347 811919.