Olympic heroes eye success on big stage

But Northallerton star Nicola Wilson says Opposition Buzz’s gaze is fixed solely on his beloved Badminton Horse Trials next weekend.

Wilson and Rosemary Search’s Opposition Buzz wowed the nation last summer by helping Team GB win an eventing silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Now, 10 months on, the duo are ready for their biggest competition since at Badminton next weekend.

There is no denying the esteem in which next weekend’s CCI four-star event is held in – an event Wilson and Opposition Buzz are very familiar with having recorded three top-10 finishes there. Indeed, Wilson says her 16-year-old mount is so au fait with Badminton that he even senses it’s coming around each year.

“Opposition Buzz knows that there’s that important competition nearing,” Wilson told the Yorkshire Post this week. “He knows purely just by the work he is doing day to day as he is getting fitter.

“These more experienced horses sort of get used to the routine and the fitness programmes set out for them and they know what’s coming – it’s lovely. Opposition Buzz has been competing at four-star level for seven years now which is amazing – for a horse to compete at top level for quite so long. These horses love competing, they love going to the big events and Badminton is a really special one for Opposition Buzz. It’s his main party and he knows that it’s looming.”

After becoming something of a household name in 2012, 2013 has been a much quieter year for Opposition Buzz so far. He has had just the two outings this season – at Oasby and Burnham Market – but that is very much by design.

Wilson’s ace was third in the Open Intermediate at Oasby and 13th in the CIC International Advanced three-star event at the Burnham Market International. The plan, though, is to peak to perfection at Badminton.

“Badminton is the premier event of eventing really,” said Wilson. “Everybody is always keen to do incredibly well at Badminton and that’s where the selectors will be watching to see if there are any new horses, new riders and new talent coming through for possible team selection.

“I don’t know how it will work this year with Opposition Buzz being that little bit older now and they may well be looking for younger horses. But my aim really is to do as well as we possibly can and come home with a safe, sound and happy horse.”

Reflecting on past experiences at Badminton, Wilson recalled: “He’s been seventh twice I think and he’s been in the top 10 three times.

“The last time it was actually ran in 2011 he was seventh but he was third going into the show jumping when he just rolled a pole which was so disappointing.

“But it was great to finish seventh. Let’s just hope we can go equally as well – if not a little bit better this year. Fingers crossed.”

Opposition Buzz will put the final touches to his Badminton preparations in training this weekend but for Wilson, attention will be focused on the stars of tomorrow.

Annie Clover, Beltane Queen and Watermill Vision are three younger hopes that have impressed Yorkshire’s Olympic queen so far during 2013, with Wilson thrilled with the consistency of all of her horses so far this season.

And today the Yorkshire star will be looking for two five-year-olds to excel at her home course of Northallerton.

Wilson will be competing Dartans Greenlough Tom and Outrigger and is looking forward to the rarity of a stress-free journey to competition.

At least she hopes so. Wilson laughed: “Northallerton is the closest one to us and just down the road.

“It will be a novelty only having a 10-minute drive instead of a four or five-hour drive. It will be quite a treat and I hope I’m not late... I can’t really say I got stuck in traffic!”

And nor can Wilson have any complaints about the preparation of next weekend’s Badminton hopeful Opposition Buzz who is ready to shine in more ways than one.

“He’s been a very consistent horse all the way through his career and he’s feeling as well as he always does,” said Wilson, who is also competing at Bradwall in Chester tomorrow.

“Lynn Swift, my wonderful head girl, has been looking after him as beautifully as she always does.

“You could use his coat as a mirror at the moment it’s shining so much.”

Equestrian artist Lazenby ready to share the secrets of her work

BARNSLEY-based equestrian artist Jane Lazenby will open up her purpose-built home studio as part of ‘Open Up Sheffield’ next month.

Lazenby established her business in 1992 and is now an internationally exhibited artist whose paintings are in private collections in the USA, UAE, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Austria and throughout the UK.

And over the first two weekends in May, the artist is inviting the general public to her studio at the rear of Mount Pleasant, Cawthorne Lane, Kexborough (S75 5DY). Lazenby’s studio is set in scenic, dog and child friendly gardens with the venue set to be open from 11am until 4pm next Saturday until next Monday inclusive, as well as the following Saturday and Sunday.

Lazenby’s studio will be one of 50 to open their doors to the general public as part of the ‘Open Up Sheffield’ initiative with the Barnsley artist hoping there is plenty of interest in her exceptional work. Lazenby said: “Visitors can not only view a wide selection of recent work – which is animal, equestrian and portrait based – but they can also browse my selection of quality art cards and prints.

“I will be talking to the visitors who can watch my working process and demonstrations of techniques as well as relaxing and enjoying free refreshments and chatting to like-minded visitors.”

Lazenby is a member of The Association Of Animal Artists and The Society For All Artists as well as being as an Associate member of the Society Of Equestrian Artists. For more info call 01226 382378.

Leading British rider Piggy French has withdrawn her ride Jakarta from next weekend’s Badminton Horse Trials. It is another blow for the Leicestershire-based eventer, who was selected for the London 2012 silver medal-winning eventing team but had to withdraw when DHI Topper W suffered an injury. Jakarta was also injured at that time, and French was replaced by Northallerton’s Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz. French’s place at Badminton will be taken by New Zealander Megan Heath, riding St Daniel.