4 October 2022
Bennington Carriages Osberton International Proves a Big Hit with Carriage Drivers
This year’s Osberton International Horse Trials once again played host to a national driving event which proved a big hit with both competitors and spectators. The team at organiser’s BEDE Events pulled out all the stops to bring top-level sport to the Osberton Estate in Nottinghamshire with a new marathon course and obstacles that drew wide praise throughout the day.Karen Bassett
Sponsored by Bennington Carriages the competition was held across the magnificent backdrop of the Osberton Estate with competitors thoroughly enjoying all the action alongside the country’s leading event riders. Karen Bassett repeated last year’s success when winning the Horse Fours and said: “It is fantastic to be back at Osberton, it would make a great venue for the National Championships and we all really enjoy competing in such a brilliant atmosphere.”
Karen was in the lead after the dressage, before she had a ‘disastrous’ cones with five down, only to pull it back on the marathon much to her delight. “The team went really well in the final phase and we pushed on as much as we could. I made a couple of mistakes as I was really going for it but am very pleased with the result. The obstacles are excellent, some are open and fast, while others are tight and technical so you really have to think,” added Karen
“The venue is just fantastic and it is wonderful competing alongside the horse trials and the atmosphere was electric at times.” The Horse Fours was very well represented with six teams starting out in a bid to take the top awards
Karen Basset
'Icing on the cake'
Guildford-based Dick Lane was another to relish the opportunity to compete alongside the leading event riders in the country when winning the Advanced Horse Pairs for the second year running. Said Dick: “Without doubt the marathon course is up to international standard and a win is the ‘icing on the cake’ at the end of the season.” Dick drove two of his Hungarian Lipitzzaners, Pluto and Zenta from his four in hand team taking the winner’s rosette ahead of Rowena Moyse and Fred Pendlebury.
Dick Lane
Megan Wheeldon and Angela Smith
Megan Wheeldon and her Welsh Section C, Red, now 15-years-old, triumphed in the Open Single Pony. Said Megan: “I was third after the dressage, then won the cones and the marathon. Osberton is a lovely venue and I couldn’t be more pleased with the win.”
In the Pony Fours, Lincolnshire-based Angela Smith headed the section with her Welsh Section A ponies. Added Angela: “We have had a brilliant time, lots of fun and competitive spirit, and it has been great to watch and follow the eventing at the same time.”
Megan Wheeldon
Said Stuart Buntine of organiser BEDE Events: “It was brilliant having the Bennington Carriages Driving Trials at Osberton International once again and without doubt it adds another dimension to the event.”
Added Sue Mart of Bennington Carriages: “It was wonderful to be back at Osberton and to see so many competitors was just great. We had the opportunity to talk to a lot of the event riders and people new to the sport and the trade stand was very busy. The competition provided a great end to the season and everyone was in a fantastic party spirit while also competing hard to win.”
