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Wiltshire riders are preparing for the biggest stage of their careers when they compete at the Badminton Horse Trials at the weekend.

The county will see a plethora of competitors desperate to take the coveted crown at the event, which starts today and finishes on Sunday.

With reigning champion, Little Cheverell's Lucinda Fredericks, deciding not to compete to save her horse Headingly Britannia for the Olympics, other local talent are gunning for glory.

Highworth's Paul Tapner rides on Inonothing with Marlborough's Stuart Tinney competing on Vettoria and Andrew Nicholson riding Armada and Silbury Hill, hoping to improve on his fifth place from last year.

Julia Crowson, also from Marlborough, rides Jakata.

But course designer Hugh Thomas believes the local hopefuls cannot take the three day event lightly. "For an event like Badminton you have to be utterly committed, utterly dedicated and very, very focused," he said.

"You can't take part in it without being totally into it and nobody comes here for the practice.

"They are top class sportsmen and are competing at the highest level."

Chippenham's Harry Meade is riding Midnight Dazzler and Birthday Night while Georgie Spence, also from Chippenham, competes in her first ever Badminton on Running Brook.

Beanie Sturgis completes the Chippenham trio on Monarch's Rock.

Clayton Fredericks, husband of champion Lucinda, will ride on Nullabor.

10:16am Thursday 1st May 2008

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