Fox-Pitt has nap hand for top trials challenge

He has entered five horses and will be able to choose his two rides from Cool Mountain, Idago, Macchiato, Navigator and Seacookie. Fox-Pitt won at Badminton in 2004.

The trials will run over the Easter weekend, from April 21 to 25.

Entries include a strong squad from Germany, among them Andreas Dibowski with FRH Fantasia and Ingrid Klimke on FRH Butts Abraxxas, who have both been in the top three at Badminton.

New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson has entered Avebury, Armada and Nereo, his individual World Equestrian Games bronze medallist.

Mark Todd continues his comeback with a choice of Major Milestone, NZB Land Vision and NZB Grass Valley.

On the home front, Yorkshire’s Nicola Wilson has her medal-winning partner, Opposition Buzz, along with Bee Diplomatic, also bred by Rosemary Search.

Tina Cook will ride Miner’s Frolic, Piggy French has her WEG ride Jakarta as well as Some Day Soon.

Pippa Funnell, who has won Badminton three times, returns for the first time since 2008 with Redesigned and Mirage d’Elle.

Previous winner, Huddersfield-born Oliver Townend, has entered ODT Master Rose, Ashdale Cruise Master and Carousel Quest.

Mary King, also a previous winner, has three to choose from with Kings Temptress, Imperial Cavalier and Apache Sauce.

The event begins a day early this year to allow for the Grassroots Championship for amateur riders. Spectators will also have the chance to walk the cross-country course and all the trade stands will be open.

The Badminton box office is open for advance bookings until April 11. For more details go to www.badminton-horse.co.uk

THE members of a junior team from Eldwick Riding Club are busy preparing for an important outing on April 2.

They will be competing at the British Riding Clubs (BRC) National Winter Dressage Championships at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, an extra special occasion as this will be the first time a team from the club has succeeded in qualifying for a national event.

The team members are Jenny Lucas, 15, riding Gangsters Moll; Emily Wilkinson, 16, riding Delmrose Applejack; Eden-Maia Takhar, 10, riding Talponciau Danws Y Glaw and Lizi Rushton, 13, riding Kilrush Thunder.

The girls won the BRC qualifier at Richmond Equestrian Centre in November and have been busy training for the final.

Eldwick Riding Club was established around 35 years ago by a group of enthusiasts who wanted to give local riders the chance to compete in a show. Over the years, it has grown into a successful club that now has members competing at a national level.

The club currently has a membership of around 150 juniors and adults of all ages. They range from riders starting out in competitions to those who are more experienced.

Regular training events are held throughout season with qualified instructors and the club also runs a BHS road safety course.

Based in Eldwick near Bingley, the club holds shows on the fourth Sunday of the month from April through to September, plus dressage competitions and a one day event.

Non-members who would like to compete are welcome to go along.

For more information go to www.eldwickridingclub.co.uk or call Cathy Usher on 01274 581180.

A SPONSORED fun ride in the Dales National Park is being organised next month by Ride Yorkshire, a new organisation which is promoting riding in Yorkshire. The ride, on April 10, will start from Threshfield Quarry near Grassington and there will be a choice of routes from six to 18 miles, along bridleways, tracks and quiet lanes.

The entry fee is £12 to £18, depending on the length of route.

Ride Yorkshire was set up last year by four riding enthusiasts, two of whom, Janet Cochrane and Kate Dashper, are lecturers at Leeds Metropolitan University.

“It doesn’t matter whether you are a horse owner or not, as long as you are keen to ride,” said Janet. “For horse owners, we have identified some wonderful horse and rider accommodation and created some great holiday packages. If you don’t have your own horse, there are plenty of good riding centres where you can have lessons or go trekking.”

Members of the group have tried out all the centres they promote. The group also plans to work with disadvantaged groups and enable them to go riding.

For more details email [email protected] or call 01759 368303 or 07904 862862.

Rich seam of riding across old colliery

“BRODSWORTH is wonderful,” was the verdict of members of the West Riding Group of Endurance GB who enjoyed a 20km ride over land that was once the site of Brodsworth colliery.

Riders travelled from as far away as Lancashire and Nottinghamshire to enjoy riding along tracks through the 99-acre site which was created when Brodsworth colliery closed in 1990. It is now a community woodland, owned by the Land Restoration Trust and controlled by the Forestry Commission.

Yann Matthews, riding his 18-year-old thoroughbred mare Tess said: “The riding was fantastic, along red shale tracks that were soft enough to canter on.

“The route then left the country park and we did a bit of road work before going onto bridleways again. The going was fabulous, there were some more lovely canters, then it was back onto the roads and back to the park.

“The route then climbed to the very top of what used to be a slag heap and we had lovely views for miles across the surrounding countryside.”