Johnston gets Badminton ride

Now nursing a cracked collarbone, chest bone and ribs, his only appearance at the Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials this weekend is likely to be on foot.

He was also competing at Lexington on ODT Master Rose, owned by Yorkshire businessman Stephen Hazeldine.

After a difficult journey, Stephen and his daughter Victoria arrived just in time to see them compete last Friday.

"After the cross country we were lying seventh, which for the horse's first four-star event was fantastic," said Stephen.

"It's not a weekend I'd want to experience again from Oliver's point of view but we were very pleased with how the horse went. And Oliver has great spirit, he's still got his sense of humour and is eager to get back and ride."

Townend will not be able to defend the Badminton title he won last year but had already taken the decision not to run Carousel Quest at the event. William Fox-Pitt should be flying high after winning at Lexington for the first time.

He led throughout with Cool Mountain to prove a worthy winner.

Northallerton's Nicola Wilson will be riding Rosemary's Search's Opposition Buzz who she says is feeling "on fantastic form."

Her other intended ride for Badminton, Sir Robert Ogden's Master Banks, is sidelined at the moment after a small injury.

"He was feeling fabulous at the start of the season. It's a great shame but nothing serious, so we'll crack on again later," said Nicola.

While some of the world's top riders make their final preparations for Badminton, those at grassroots level are also getting ready to compete at this famous event for the first time.

A total of 170 riders have qualified at regional level for the Mitsubishi Grassroots BE90 and BE100 Championships which will run alongside the main event.

Among them is Deirdre Johnston whose husband is the Middleham trainer Mark Johnston.

She will be competing on Thursday and Friday and on Saturday will meet up with the rest of the family at Newmarket where Awzaan, the racehorse she rides out every day, is the third favourite in the 2,000 Guineas.

"We call him the pocket rocket and I'll miss riding him out for the last two days," said Deirdre. She rides three or four horses every day as well as exercising her own horse.

"I've always ridden the racehorses but over the last five years I've got really keen on eventing," said Deirdre.

After watching her sons Charlie, 19 and Angus, 15, competing in Pony Club events she decided to have a go herself and bought her horse, County Hot Shot, three years ago. "I've been aiming at this event for some time.

"It's for amateurs like me who just do it for the fun of it and I think it's a great idea. There are 73 in the BE100 class so it will be hard.

"Whatever happens we'll go and enjoy the experience, it will be lovely to see if we can do well."

Also looking forward to the competition is 15-year-old Lucinda Stead from Holme on Swale, Thirsk.

She will be riding her skewbald gelding, Patchwork Puzzle 111, after qualifying for the event at Bishop Burton in October last year. Lucinda is a member of the Bedale and West of Yore Pony Club.

ELLEN Whitaker has been chosen for the team of four riders who will represent Great Britain in the Belgian Nations Cup at Lummen on Friday. Ellen, Ben Maher, Phillip Spivey and Mark Armstrong will be accompanied by the team's new Chef d'Equipe and performance manager, Rob Hoekstra.

Ellen, who recently became the British Open Champion, will ride Occolado, owned by Dawn Makin and Ellen's father, Steven. Their double clear round in Abu Dhabi in February helped to secure victory for the GB team.