TWO local riders will be taking on one of the greatest challenges in the equestrian sporting world this weekend when they compete at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire.

The three-day event is one of just three top four-star events held worldwide and will be a major pointer towards Olympic selection this year, attracting most of the best riders in the world, including several Olympic gold medallists, and offering a £40,000 winners prize.

Barnard Castle-based Karen Dixon is a rider with an impressive track record in an international career which stretches back more than 20 years.

The 39-year-old, a team silver medallist at the 1988 Olympics, first rode at Badminton back in 1983 and has made the top ten on four occasions.

Her ride this year is the grey gelding Uptotrix, owned jointly by Karen, her sister-in-law Charlotte Straker and Jack and Beryl Brignall.

The horse has twice competed at the event, finishing 16th in 2002, but fell cross country at last year's event.

"It wasn't the horse's fault at all - a bank collapsed and he fell with it and I ended up dislocating my shoulder," explained Karen. "A big red rosette would be nice this time - I'm hoping for third time lucky!"

The pair have been in good form at one-day events on the run up to Badminton, finishing eighth at Lincoln and sixth at Belton Park in an advanced section.

Morton on Swale-based Nicola Tweddle, 27, will ride the 15.2hh Skiver, a horse she has produced from a novice for Helperby owner Lady Milnes Coates.

"Lady Milnes Coates bought the horse for her daughter Sarah to ride in pony club events," said Nicola, who is making her fifth Badminton appearance and finished 23rd in 2000 on her first top class horse Mr Bumble.

"I took him on when he was seven and we won our first intermediate event together and finished 11th at the Boekelo three-day event in Holland back in 2001."

The horse, now 12, made his Badminton debut last year, jumping a great clear cross country inside the time to finish 27th.

Nicola said: "It's always very exciting to be going to Badminton and it's especially nice on a horse you've brought up through the levels yourself."